Trump assassination attempt/ Secret Service failure/ Butler Pennsylvania shooting/ campaign rally security/ Trump rally shooting survivors/ Newslooks/ BUTLER/ PENNSYLVANIA/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Two men wounded in an attempted assassination of Donald Trump during a Pennsylvania rally criticize the Secret Service’s handling of security, claiming it failed to prevent the shooting. The assailant was killed on-site, but three people were injured or killed in the incident. Survivors are considering legal action over alleged security negligence.
Trump Rally Shooting Victims Quick Look
- Incident Date: July 13, Butler, Pennsylvania.
- Key People: David Dutch, James Copenhaver, Corey Comperatore (killed), Donald Trump.
- Alleged Failure: Secret Service labeled “negligent” in security handling.
- Shooter: Thomas Matthew Crooks, killed by law enforcement on-site.
- Aftermath: Lawsuit considered by survivors, Secret Service leadership resigned.
Trump Rally Shooting Victims Blame Secret Service for Security Failures
Deep Look
In a dramatic turn of events, two men wounded in a high-profile assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump in Pennsylvania are voicing frustration over what they call a failure of Secret Service security. In their first public remarks since the July 13 shooting at the Butler fairgrounds, David Dutch, 57, a Marine Corps veteran, and James Copenhaver, 74, a retired liquor store manager, both spoke out in an exclusive interview with NBC News about the harrowing experience.
Dutch and Copenhaver were among several supporters seated directly behind Trump during the rally when gunfire erupted, allegedly from an unsecured rooftop overlooking the event. The shots, fired by Thomas Matthew Crooks, a 20-year-old from Bethel Park, left both men severely injured and claimed the life of another attendee, Corey Comperatore, 50, who was reportedly shielding his family during the incident. Trump was struck by one of the bullets, sustaining an ear injury, but ultimately survived.
Dutch recalled the moment of impact, describing the force as comparable to being struck with a “sledgehammer right in the chest.” Amidst the chaos, Dutch saw pieces of metal and bleacher fragments scattered around them. Reflecting on the events, he expressed anger and frustration over the perceived security breakdown, stating, “It should have never happened.”
Survivors and their legal representatives are now considering litigation against the Secret Service. They argue that the agency’s failure to secure the area adequately contributed directly to the tragedy. Copenhaver echoed Dutch’s sentiments, emphasizing that, in his view, “It wouldn’t have happened, had it been secure.”
Following this incident, which is now described by former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle as the agency’s “most significant operational failure” in recent years, Cheatle faced mounting pressure from lawmakers and ultimately resigned. Her departure underscored the severity of security concerns raised by the July attack.
Trump made a return visit to the Butler fairgrounds earlier this October, publicly linking his survival to his ongoing campaign for the presidency and urging supporters to rally behind him in the upcoming election. He emphasized his resilience in the face of the assassination attempt, framing the incident as part of a larger battle for America’s future.
