David Dutch and Jim Copenhaver survived the July 13 shooting at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, and are planning to file a lawsuit. They were both shot by Thomas Crooks, who attempted to kill former President Donald Trump. Dutch, 57, and Copenhaver, 74, were among those injured in the shooting. Corey Comperatore, 50, tragically lost his life in the incident.
According to Dutch, there was significant negligence on the part of the U.S. Secret Service for failing to properly secure the rally site. He criticized the security setup and communication between departments, calling it “terrible.” Copenhaver also expressed his belief that the security was poor and that the incident could have been prevented with better measures in place.
Both Dutch and Copenhaver have not publicly shared their experiences at the rally but mentioned being in the bleachers behind Trump when they were shot. They are still recovering from their injuries, with Dutch describing the impact as feeling like a “sledgehammer right in the chest.” Dutch, who served in the military, has faced challenges in his recovery, including weight loss and physical limitations.
The Secret Service has admitted to failures in handling the rally, with the agency’s director at the time calling it the “most significant operational failure” in decades. An internal review highlighted communication failures and improper positioning of agents, hindering coordination during the incident.
Despite the tragic events, Trump returned to the same site for a rally, honoring the victims and meeting with Comperatore’s family. The former president acknowledged the sacrifices made by those present at the rally and paid tribute to those affected by the shooting.
