President Trump has paid tribute to a survivor of the horrific Butler rally shooting in 2024, calling him a ‘true American patriot’.
Jim Copenhaver, 76, has died two years after he was critically injured in the in Pennsylvania on July 13.
He was shot twice with one bullet hitting his abdomen and another passing through his arm when Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire on the crowd from a nearby rooftop.
Due to the severity of his injuries, Copenhaver had to endure multiple surgeries with some bullet fragments remaining in his body for the rest of his life.
The Allegheny County Office of the Medical Examiner confirmed to The U.S. Sun that he died on Wednesday at West Penn Hospital.
A cause of death has not yet been released.
Following the news, Trump, 80, took to Truth Social to pay tribute to Copenhaver, saying he will have an enduring legacy.
“Jim Copenhaver, a true American Patriot, has passed away — A tremendous loss,” the president wrote .
“More than two years ago in Butler, Pennsylvania, a crazed gunman attempted to stifle our America First Movement.
“Instead, Jim and so many other wonderful Patriots who love our Country, stood united in defense of our shared values of Freedom, Liberty, and Justice.
“After being wounded while protecting his family, Jim showed tremendous bravery, courageously continuing to FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT, and maintaining a positive spirit despite unimaginable hardships.”
“His indelible legacy of love and devotion will forever endure,” he continued.
“Our hearts and prayers are with the Copenhaver family, especially his incredible wife Marianne. God bless you all! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
Trump, who was a presidential candidate seeking reelection at the time of the shooting, was left bloodied on stage as a bullet grazed his ear.
Meanwhile, off-duty and fellow rally attendee David Dutch was severely wounded.
A Secret Service counter-sniper shot Crooks, 20, dead moments after he launched his attack.
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.
This year, 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.
