Man Wounded In 2024 Trump Rally Shooting Dies; Cause Under Review
James Copenhaver, 76, who was wounded at the July 13, 2024 Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, died Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at Allegheny Health Network's West Penn Hospital, the county medical examiner confirmed.[1]
The Allegheny County medical examiner has listed his cause of death as pending.[2] Copenhaver was struck in the arm and abdomen at the July 13, 2024 rally, spent a week in the hospital and wore a colostomy bag for at least a year.[2]
On July 13, 2024, a gunman opened fire at the Trump campaign rally in Butler, wounding Copenhaver and former President Donald Trump.[2] The shooting critically wounded Marine veteran David Dutch and killed Corey Comperatore, and the gunman, Thomas Crooks, was shot and killed by the Secret Service.[2]
Reporting indicates Copenhaver suffered long-term injuries, including bullet fragments still lodged in his body, and that he required multiple surgeries after the shooting.[3] PBS and other outlets note he later walked with a cane and that he and his wife sued the federal government in June 2026, accusing the Secret Service and the Department of Homeland Security of failing to provide appropriate security at the rally.[1]
Early coverage framed Copenhaver's death as complications from his rally wounds and emphasized his permanent injuries and retained bullet fragments.[3] More recent reporting has noted the medical examiner's pending cause finding and has highlighted the June 2026 lawsuit alleging security failures.[2]
The House Republican Conference posted an obituary-style statement saying members were "deeply saddened" by his passing.[3] Former President Donald Trump called Copenhaver "a true American Patriot" and praised his courage in a social media post.[1]
Show source details & analysis (4 sources)
📌 Key Facts
- James Copenhaver, 76, died on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at Allegheny Health Network's West Penn Hospital in Pittsburgh, and the Allegheny County medical examiner lists his cause of death as pending (James Copenhaver).
- Copenhaver was struck in the arm and abdomen at the July 13, 2024 Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania; he spent a week in the hospital, wore a colostomy bag for at least a year, and was left with lingering injuries that required him to walk with a cane (July 13, 2024 Trump rally).
- Copenhaver and his wife sued the federal government in June 2026, alleging the Secret Service and Department of Homeland Security "utterly failed" to provide appropriate security at the rally and describing his injuries as "debilitating, grievous, permanent and life altering" (sued the federal government).
- Reporting indicates he suffered long-term, permanent injuries — including bullet fragments still lodged in his body — and that he required multiple surgeries after the shooting (bullet fragments).
- The House Republican Conference posted an obituary-style statement on Thursday, September 24, 2026, and House Republicans issued a statement on X mourning his loss and offering condolences to his family (House Republican Conference).
- Former President Donald Trump posted a social media statement on Thursday, September 24, 2026, calling Copenhaver "a true American Patriot" and praising his "tremendous bravery" (Donald Trump).
- The July 13, 2024 shooting also wounded Donald Trump, critically wounded Marine veteran David Dutch, killed Corey Comperatore, and the gunman, Thomas Crooks, was shot and killed by the Secret Service (Thomas Crooks).
- Friends said Copenhaver — a retired Moon Township resident who served on a military banner committee and played in a band — had stopped using the colostomy bag and had progressed from a walker to no support, appearing to be "fully recovered" before his death (Albert Quaye) (Albert Quaye).
📰 Source Timeline (4)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- PBS/Associated Press confirms that James Copenhaver, 76, died Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at Allegheny Health Network's West Penn Hospital in Pittsburgh.
- The Allegheny County medical examiner issued a statement confirming Copenhaver's death, though it did not specify whether it was directly caused by his 2024 rally injuries.
- The article details that Copenhaver was shot in the arm and abdomen during the July 13, 2024 Butler, Pennsylvania, rally, leaving him with lingering injuries and requiring him to walk with a cane.
- It reiterates that Copenhaver and his wife sued the federal government in June 2026, alleging the Secret Service and Department of Homeland Security 'utterly failed' to provide appropriate security at the rally, describing his injuries as 'debilitating, grievous, permanent and life altering.'
- Former President Donald Trump issued a public statement on social media Thursday, September 24, 2026, calling Copenhaver 'a true American Patriot' and praising his 'tremendous bravery, courageously continuing to FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT.'
- The New York Times reports that James Copenhaver, 76, of Moon Township, Pennsylvania, died on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, and that the Allegheny County medical examiner lists his cause of death as pending investigation.
- The article details that Copenhaver was struck in the arm and abdomen at the July 13, 2024 Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, spent a week in the hospital, and wore a colostomy bag for at least a year.
- Friend and former local supervisor Albert Quaye says Copenhaver had stopped using the colostomy bag, progressed from a walker to no support, and that he believed Copenhaver was 'fully recovered' and 'living his life no problem' before his death.
- The story adds personal background: Copenhaver was retired, involved in a military banner committee in Moon Township, and played in a band.
- House Republicans issued a statement on X mourning his loss and expressing condolences to his family.
- The article reiterates that the shooting on July 13, 2024, also wounded Donald Trump, critically wounded Marine veteran David Dutch, killed Corey Comperatore, and that gunman Thomas Crooks was shot and killed by the Secret Service.
- Fox News reports on September 24, 2026 that James Copenhaver, a mid-70s resident of Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, has died after being wounded in the July 13, 2024 Trump rally shooting in Butler.
- The House Republican Conference posted an obituary-style statement on September 24, 2026, saying Copenhaver died Thursday and expressing that members were 'deeply saddened' by his passing.
- Fox News says a person answering a phone number linked to Copenhaver's family directed the outlet to a Pittsburgh-area law firm for confirmation and further comment about his death.
- Journalist Ken Silva, who wrote a book about the assassination attempt, is cited as saying a person close to Copenhaver's family confirmed that Copenhaver had been dealing with permanent injuries, including bullet fragments still lodged in his body.
- The article notes that Copenhaver filed a lawsuit against the United States earlier in 2026 alleging he required multiple surgeries as a result of the shooting.
- Copenhaver previously described in a 2025 KDKA interview how he felt bullets strike him twice during the July 13, 2024 rally, saying the shots hit 'soft material' and that the impact felt like a jolt.