Two attendees shot at a July 2024 Trump campaign rally in Butler, Pa., have sued the federal government, alleging the Secret Service failed to secure the event. Plaintiffs James Copenhaver and David Dutch say they suffered serious injuries when Thomas Crooks opened fire; Crooks also killed one attendee and was shot dead by agents. Each plaintiff seeks at least $150,000, and congressional probes found "significant failures," prompting suspensions of six agents.
Butler Rally Shooting Victims Sue Federal Government, Alleging Secret Service Security Failures
Donald Trump speaks Oct. 5, 2024, at at the Butler Farm Show grounds, the site of an assassination attempt three months earlier. Two men injured in that incident are suing the federal government for negligence. Photo by Archie Carpenter/UPI.
Two men wounded when a gunman opened fire at a July 2024 campaign rally for former President Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, have filed negligence suits against the federal government, alleging the U.S. Secret Service failed to properly secure the event.
James Copenhaver and David Dutch, both Pennsylvania residents, say they were shot by Thomas Crooks, whom authorities say attempted to assassinate Trump. Court filings state Copenhaver was struck twice and sustained wounds to his abdomen, spine and left arm; his complaint also names his wife, Marianne Copenhaver, as a plaintiff. Dutch’s lawsuit describes his injuries as "severe, serious, permanent and grievous."
Crooks killed attendee Corey Comperatore during the attack. Secret Service agents shot and killed Crooks at the scene, and Trump suffered a minor wound to his ear.
"The events which led to [Dutch's] grievous and permanent injuries were shocking and preventable, should not have happened, and the failures, as highlighted herein, exposed President Trump and all Butler Rally attendees ... to grave, mortal danger," Dutch's complaint states, adding that security failures at the rally were "rampant."
The lawsuits allege the Secret Service failed to secure access points, ignore or mishandle pre-event warnings, and otherwise fell short of the required protective measures—failures that the plaintiffs say enabled the attack. Each plaintiff is seeking at least $150,000 in damages, according to reporting.
Investigations and Agency Response
A U.S. House task force and the Senate Homeland Security Committee separately found "significant failures" in the Secret Service's planning and execution for the Butler event, including not acting on tips about the shooter before the rally. The Secret Service has suspended six agents for conduct related to the incident. The lawsuits now move through federal court as investigations and congressional reviews continue.
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