News/Commentary

Victim who was shot twice at Trump rally speaks out for the first time

August 8, 2024 | | Print Article

One of the surviving victims of the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump is now speaking out for the first time ever.

David Dutch, an elderly Marine veteran, is one of two surviving victims of the July 13th assassination attempt on Trump that occurred during a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania.

He was “shot twice while standing in the bleachers behind where Trump was speaking from a stage when gunfire rang out at 6:11 p.m.,” according to Fox News.

In a statement made to Fox News via Dutch’s attorneys at the Law Offices of Max C. Feldman, the victim thanked everybody for their support through this difficult time.

“David, his wife, Sheree, and the rest of the Dutch family wish to express their sincerest gratitude for the enormous level of support that they have received from their friends, their fellow Americans, and everyone else, whether domestic or abroad, that have kept David and his family in their prayers,” the statement reads.

It goes on to also thank “the brave men and women that saved his life, including, but not limited to, the police officers, the medics, the life flight crew, and the medical professionals of Allegheny General Hospital, as well as those who continue to care for him as he navigates the road to recovery.”

“Further, David and his family wish to express their thoughts and prayers for the family of Corey Comperatore, who died a hero while shielding his wife and daughters from oncoming gunfire at the rally, for James Copenhaver, who survived two gunshot wounds at the rally while exercising his fundamental right to freely express his support for a political candidate, and for President Trump, who did not cower in face of danger and continues his fight to make America great again and restore America’s position as the most powerful and economically sound country in the world,” the statement continues.

As previously reported, victim Corey Comperatore, a former fire chief, died while shielding his wife and daughters from gunfire.

According to Fox News, both Dutch and the other surviving victim — James Copenhaver, 74 — have retained lawyers with Feldman’s office “to protect their best interests as they navigate the most challenging time of their lives.”

That said, at this particular moment in time, Dutch and his family “request that the public and the media respect their privacy as David continues recovering from the injuries he sustained on July 13, 2024.”

Copenhaver previously spoke to the media through his attorney, Joseph Feldman, last month to say how “sad” he felt about the “political division” in the nation after he was left hospitalized as he recovered from wounds to his arm and abdomen.

“Overall, he just wants people to understand how unnecessary it was and that the political divide in this country has become so great [that] people are literally willing to attend rallies where people are exercising their First Amendment rights and start firing bullets into crowds,” Feldman told Fox News in an interview at the time.

“He’s 74 years old. He’s been around a long time. He’s witnessed a lot take place in this country. And this is definitely one of the worst things that he’s experienced as an American, and he wants people to understand that it does not have to be like this,” the attorney continued.

Copenhaver has a “long road ahead” to recovery, Feldman said, adding that the Trump supporter extended his thanks to law enforcement, as well as the emergency and medical teams who helped him after he was injured.

He “is unafraid to voice his support for Trump, and he will not allow those who disagree with his views to silence him or prevent him from exercising his rights,” Feldman stressed.

In separate news, Secret Service snipers were reportedly present for Vice President Kamala Harris’ outdoor rally in Wisconsin this week:

Vivek Saxena
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