Jim Copenhaver, a spectator gravely wounded during the July 2024 attempt on President Trump's life at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, has died at the age of 76. His death was announced Thursday by the House Republican Conference's official social media account, marking the second fatality tied to the attack.
Copenhaver was among two attendees struck by gunfire when Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire from a nearby rooftop in an effort to kill the then-presidential candidate. One rally-goer, Corey Comperatore, was killed shielding his family. Copenhaver took two rounds—one to his arm and another to his abdomen—and sustained lasting nerve damage that family members said he battled with for months.
The Republican conference mourned his passing in a statement, saying, "We are deeply saddened by the passing of Jim Copenhaver, who was gravely wounded in the horrific shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania. 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."
Republican lawmakers swiftly responded, with several framing Copenhaver's death as a fresh call for accountability. Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) wrote on social media that his "prayers are with the family members of Jim Copenhaver" and that the loss "should serve as continued motivation to provide sufficient answers and closure for the investigation into the attempted assassination of President Trump in Butler, where two innocent lives have now been lost."
Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), who chairs the House Republican Conference, echoed those sentiments. "Jim was critically wounded in Butler, Pennsylvania, during the attempted assassination of President Trump," she posted. "He carried those injuries with strength and perseverance. May he rest in peace."
The shooting has already prompted multiple congressional probes into how Crooks was able to access a rooftop with a clear line of sight to the former president. Those investigations have taken on renewed urgency as lawmakers demand a full accounting of the security failures that day. The attack also reshaped the political landscape, with both parties weighing its implications for campaign security and gun policy.
Copenhaver's death comes as Washington remains consumed by other high-stakes matters, including a recent rollback of Affordable Care Act enrollment and a flurry of diplomatic activity surrounding the president's upcoming summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. Yet for many Republicans, the Butler investigation remains a lingering wound—and a political rallying point.
No funeral arrangements have been announced. The House Republican Conference's post did not specify a cause of death, but Copenhaver's family has previously said his injuries required ongoing medical care. His passing is likely to intensify calls for the release of additional findings from the FBI and the independent review commissioned by the Department of Homeland Security.
As of Thursday evening, neither the White House nor the Trump campaign had issued a public statement on Copenhaver's death. Lawmakers from both parties are expected to address the matter in the coming days, with some suggesting that a formal congressional hearing could be scheduled to examine the latest developments.
