Copenhaver, Wounded at 2024 Trump Rally, Dies of Injuries

James Copenhaver, a Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, man wounded in the July 2024 attempt to assassinate then-candidate Donald Trump, has died from complications related to his injuries, according to the New York Post, citing Fox News. Copenhaver was in his mid-70s.

Who was James Copenhaver?

Copenhaver lived in Coraopolis, a borough near Pittsburgh, and was among several rallygoers struck by gunfire at the Butler Farm Show complex outside Butler, Pennsylvania, the Post reported. A person who answered a phone number connected to Copenhaver's family referred Fox News Digital to a Pittsburgh-area law firm for confirmation and further comment, according to the outlet.

What happened at the Butler rally?

On July 13, 2024, gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks scaled the roof of a nearby glass manufacturing building and opened fire as Trump addressed the crowd, the Post reported. Copenhaver told Pittsburgh's KDKA in 2025 that he had stood up to look at a jumbotron behind him when the shooting began, according to the Post's account of that interview. Butler County firefighter Corey Comperatore was killed in the bleachers behind Trump's dais that day, and rallygoer David Dutch was also wounded but survived, the Post reported.

What have officials and family said about his death?

The House Republican Conference posted an obituary for Copenhaver on social media, stating he died Thursday. "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," the conference said in a statement carried by the Post.

Ken Silva, a journalist who wrote a book about the assassination attempt, wrote on his website that a person close to Copenhaver's family also confirmed his death, according to the Post's reporting.

What is known about his injuries since the shooting?

Silva's source told him Copenhaver had been dealing with permanent injuries, including bullet fragments still lodged in his body, the Post reported. No additional medical details, including a specific cause of death or hospital, were provided in available reporting.

Glossary

Butler Farm Show complex — The fairgrounds venue outside Butler, Pennsylvania, where the July 13, 2024, rally was held and where the shooting occurred.

House Republican Conference — The official organization of Republican members in the U.S. House of Representatives, which issued a statement mourning Copenhaver.

Bullet fragments — Pieces of ammunition that can remain in a body after a gunshot wound when full surgical removal is not performed or possible, a detail Silva's source cited regarding Copenhaver's ongoing injuries.

Further details on the circumstances of Copenhaver's death, including any funeral arrangements, had not been released as of the Post's report. This story may be updated as additional confirmation becomes available from family representatives or law enforcement.