James Copenhaver is dead. His lawyer, Joseph Feldman, confirmed the 76-year-old died at Allegheny Health Network’s West Penn Hospital in Pittsburgh on Wednesday. Copenhaver was in the bleachers at the Butler, Pennsylvania rally in 2024 when a gunman opened fire from a rooftop. He took bullets in the arm and abdomen. Those wounds left him walking with a cane and suffering from permanent damage, including a transection of his colon and loss of feeling in his leg.
The death follows a legal battle. In June, Copenhaver and his wife, Marianne, sued the federal government. They alleged the Secret Service and Department of Homeland Security “utterly failed” to provide appropriate security. The lawsuit described his injuries as “debilitating, grievous, permanent and life altering.” Feldman’s statement noted Copenhaver died surrounded by loved ones but did not explicitly link his death to the rally injuries.
Two other people were shot at that event. Corey Comperatore, who shielded his family, was killed in the attack. David Dutch survived. Copenhaver’s death marks the end of a prolonged recovery for one of the few survivors of that chaotic evening. The White House did not immediately comment on the news.
The Allegheny County medical examiner’s office is handling the case, according to local media reports. No further details on the timing of his final days were released in the initial statement. The next step lies with the federal court, where his family’s lawsuit for negligence remains pending.