James Copenhaver, one of three attendees shot during a 2024 assassination attempt on then-candidate Donald Trump, died on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. His lawyer, Joseph Feldman, confirmed the death on Thursday, stating that the 76-year-old died at Allegheny Health Network’s West Penn Hospital in Pittsburgh surrounded by family.
Copenhaver was seated in the bleachers at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024, when a 20-year-old gunman opened fire from a nearby rooftop. During the event, Trump was grazed in the ear, one attendee was killed, and Copenhaver and another man, David Dutch, were wounded. Copenhaver was struck in the arm and abdomen, resulting in long-term injuries that required him to use a cane.
Medical records and a lawsuit filed by Copenhaver and his wife in June 2026 detailed the extent of his injuries, which included a transection of his colon, kidney damage, and a loss of feeling in his leg. The lawsuit named the federal government as the defendant, alleging the Secret Service and the Department of Homeland Security failed to provide adequate security. In a statement on Thursday, September 24, 2026, Trump referred to Copenhaver as a "patriot" and praised his spirit during his recovery.
The scale of the physical toll on Copenhaver was documented as "life altering," involving multiple surgeries and permanent physiological damage. While the financial cost of his medical care over the two years following the shooting was not explicitly totaled in the reports, the lawsuit indicated the injuries were debilitating and grievous. A 2025 Senate committee report regarding the event detailed security failures.
The 2025 Senate report specifically highlighted Secret Service failures that allowed the gunman to access a rooftop within range of the podium. The statement from the attorney did not specify if the death was directly caused by the rally injuries. Trump is tentatively scheduled to hold a rally in Mobile, Alabama, on October 2, 2026.