Jim Copenhaver, a MAGA activist who was shot during the 2024 assassination attempt on Donald Trump, has died, the U.S. president announced Thursday, September 24.
“Jim Copenhaver, a true American patriot, has left us. An immense loss!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
The 76-year-old was struck in the arm and abdomen during the 2024 campaign rally and was among two participants seriously wounded by the gunman.
A Legacy of Bravery
“After being injured while protecting his family, Jim showed immense bravery, courageously continuing to fight, fight, fight, keeping a positive spirit despite unimaginable trials,” Trump said in his tribute.
A statement relayed by U.S. media and issued by the Copenhaver family’s attorney did not specify the cause of death. However, Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday indicated on X that Copenhaver died “from complications related to” his gunshot wounds in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Lasting Effects of the Attack
The aftermath of the shooting forced Copenhaver to walk with a cane, according to the AP news agency. He had also reported facing infections and undergoing surgical procedures following the assassination attempt, the BBC recalled, and had initiated legal action against the federal government.
Another attendee, Corey Comperatore, a 50-year-old firefighter, was killed during the political rally held in Butler, Pennsylvania, on July 13, 2024. Trump himself was wounded in the ear.
The shooter, identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks, was shot dead by presidential protection services.
