James Copenhaver, one of the people wounded during the attempted assassination of then-presidential candidate Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania in 2024, has died, his family said.

Copenhaver died Wednesday at a hospital at the age of 76, according to the Allegheny County Office of the Medical Examiner. His cause of death was not disclosed.

Copenhaver was a veteran and a devoted husband, father and grandfather. His family said he was surrounded by loved ones when he died. Family lawyer Joseph Feldman described him as a man whose family was the center of his life.

Trump also paid tribute to Copenhaver, describing him as a “true American Patriot” and expressing condolences to his wife, Marianne, and the rest of the family.

The shooting occurred on July 13, 2024, when Trump was speaking at a campaign rally attended by thousands of people in Butler, Pennsylvania. A gunman positioned on a nearby roof opened fire, striking Trump in the ear and forcing him to leave the stage.

Copenhaver and another rally attendee were seriously wounded while sitting on the far end of the bleachers to Trump’s left. Corey Comperatore, a 50-year-old rally attendee, was killed in the shooting.

Copenhaver later recalled that he initially did not realize he had been shot. He told CNN affiliate KDKA that he turned around after the first shot and was struck by a second bullet.

At the time of the shooting, Copenhaver was 74 and was taken to Allegheny General Hospital. His family said he was in critical but stable condition.

He was released from the hospital about two weeks later. Copenhaver told KDKA that one bullet tore into his triceps while another remained lodged in his body, causing nerve damage. He subsequently needed to use a cane because of his injuries.

His family lawyer said Copenhaver’s dedication to the United States was a defining part of his life and that he had proudly served in the armed forces.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and House Republicans also expressed condolences following Copenhaver’s death. Shapiro said Copenhaver’s family would now face the loss of a loved one, while condemning the political violence that occurred at the Butler rally.

Another attorney representing Copenhaver, Douglas Latto, declined to comment on whether the injuries he suffered in the shooting contributed to his death, citing pending litigation.

In June, Copenhaver and his wife filed a lawsuit against the federal government, alleging negligence, recklessness and carelessness by the Secret Service in connection with the 2024 shooting. The lawsuit says Copenhaver suffered severe and permanent injuries.

The case remains ongoing. Court records show that earlier this month both sides agreed to give the United States additional time to respond to the lawsuit. The Justice Department had not immediately commented.

SOURCE: CNN, Eduardo Cuevas, September 24, 2026.