The two men seriously injured in the attempt to assassinate former President Donald Trump on July 13 made their first public comments since the rally shooting, accusing the Secret Service of negligence. James Copenhaver, 74, and David Dutch, 57, sustained critical wounds during the incident, where firefighter Corey Comperatore, 50, was killed as he shielded his family from the sniper’s shots. Dutch criticized the security planning and inter-department communications as being poor and negligent.
Dutch and Copenhaver both believe that there was negligence on the part of the Secret Service in providing security at the Trump rally in Butler, Pa. They mentioned that the security setup was inadequate and that the incident could have been prevented had proper measures been taken. Both men plan to file a lawsuit after investigating the parties responsible for the tragedy, reflecting their dissatisfaction with the handling of the situation.
A Senate probe into the shooting revealed that the attempt to kill Trump by Thomas Matthew Crooks was foreseeable and preventable due to failures in planning, communication, security, and resource allocation by the Secret Service. Crooks had been at the rally site for about 70 minutes before the shooting occurred, and several Secret Service agents were aware of his suspicious activity prior to the incident. Dutch expressed anger over the security lapses that allowed the shooter to target a defenseless crowd.
Dutch, who was shot in the liver by Crooks, described the impact as feeling like being hit with a sledgehammer in the chest. He also mentioned seeing metal and chunks of the bleacher flying during the shooting, indicating the chaos of the situation. Dutch continues to struggle with ongoing health problems as a result of the shooting, including difficulty driving and lifting heavy objects. Copenhaver, who was shot in the tricep and abdomen, also experiences lingering pain and mobility issues since the incident.
Copenhaver recalled the moment he realized he had been shot, feeling a piece of his sleeve rip away before being hit a second time. He has since lost weight, experiences occasional pain in his abdomen, and requires a cane to walk as a result of the injuries sustained during the assassination attempt. Crooks was shot and killed by a Secret Service agent shortly after opening fire, bringing a tragic end to the violent incident that left several individuals injured and one dead. The survivors continue to cope with the physical and emotional aftermath of the shooting while seeking accountability for the security failures that allowed the assassination attempt to occur.
