ONE of the two men critically wounded during the 2024 assassination attempt against Donald Trump has died, The U.S. Sun can confirm.
James “Jim” Copenhaver, 76, died after surviving the July 13 shooting at Trump’s campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, according to a source close to his family.
Copenhaver was shot twice, with one bullet passing through his triceps and another striking his abdomen.
His injuries required extensive treatment and multiple surgeries, with bullet fragments remaining inside his body.
The Allegheny County Office of the Medical Examiner confirmed to The U.S. Sun that Copenhaver died on Wednesday at around 12.45pm at West Penn Hospital.
A cause of death has not yet been confirmed.
His death was first reported on X by journalist Ken Silva on Thursday.
Silva wrote that Copenhaver, who had become a prominent voice among the survivors of the Butler shooting, had passed away.
“I’ve got very sad news: Jim Copenhaver, who was shot at the Butler Trump rally on July 13, 2024, has died,” Silva wrote.
“I don’t have many details at this point, but it’s no secret that Jim was dealing with permanent injuries from Butler—including having bullet fragments still inside of him. RIP Jim.”
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A source further confirmed his death to the U.S. Sun, adding that his grieving family is not yet ready to comment.
Copenhaver was one of three people shot when gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire from a rooftop overlooking the rally.
Crooks, 20, was shot dead by a Secret Service counter-sniper moments after the shooting.
The FBI later said he died from a single gunshot wound to the head.
Trump was struck in the ear by a bullet, while 50-year-old rally attendee Corey Comperatore was killed while attending the rally with his family.
Copenhaver and David Dutch were critically wounded and rushed to Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh for treatment.
Copenhaver was 74 at the time and lived in Moon Township, Pennsylvania, about an hour from the Butler County Farm Show grounds where the rally was held.
He had attended the event with his best friend Randy and was standing in the crowd when the gunfire erupted.
Copenhaver later recalled realizing what had happened after seeing part of his sleeve disappear and hearing a sound, before turning to his friend and saying, “I think I was shot.”
He eventually recovered enough to speak publicly about the attack and became critical of the security failures surrounding the rally.
The House of Republicans also released a statement after his death.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Jim Copenhaver, who was gravely wounded in the horrific shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania.
“Jim endured unimaginable hardship with strength and perseverance.
“We join his family and loved ones in mourning his loss and praying for them during this difficult time. May he rest in peace.”
In an October 2024 NBC News interview, Copenhaver and Dutch spoke about what they believed were failures by the Secret Service and other agencies responsible for security at the event.
In 2026, Copenhaver joined Dutch in pursuing legal action against the federal government over alleged security failures that they argued allowed the attack to happen.
Copenhaver and his wife Marianne filed their lawsuit on June 1 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.
The lawsuit seeks more than $150,000 in damages over alleged security failures surrounding the rally.
Silva reported in June that Copenhaver’s lawsuit detailed the extensive injuries he suffered, including abdominal trauma that required further medical treatment and surgeries.
The lawsuit alleges failures by the Secret Service, including issues surrounding the security of the rooftop where Thomas Crooks opened fire.
The Secret Service has previously acknowledged security breakdowns surrounding the attack, including communication, technology, and human failures.
As of the latest publicly available docket information, there is no response from the federal government listed in Copenhaver’s case.
Before the incident, Copenhaver was a retired Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board employee and had become increasingly involved in local issues in Moon Township.
Copenhaver had at least one son and several grandchildren, according to people who knew him.
After the shooting, his family thanked the first responders, medics, and hospital staff who treated him and said he was praying for the other victims and for Trump.
Copenhaver said he hoped to eventually return to riding his Harley-Davidson with his best friend Randy.