In a chilling account of the deadly shooting at a Donald Trump rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13, two victims have come forward to share their harrowing experiences.
Jim Copenhaver, 74, and David Dutch, 54, were among those injured when Thomas Matthew Crooks, 20, opened fire on the crowd, tragically killing firefighter Corey Comperatore who was shielding his family.
According to the Daily Mail, both men sustained life-altering injuries from the incident. Copenhaver was shot twice, while Dutch was hit once in the chest. "It was like getting hit with a sledgehammer right in the chest," Dutch recalled. He described the chaotic scene, with "chunks of bleacher and scrap metal flying all around until he finished firing." The bullet that hit him split his liver.
Copenhaver's experience was no less terrifying. He described hearing the sound of his sleeve being torn by a bullet before realizing he had been shot. "I mean I heard it distinctly. And I turned around to my friend and I said, 'I think I was shot.' That's when I got the second. And then I went down," he recounted. One of the bullets remains lodged in his body, causing nerve damage.
The two victims also pointed out the glaring security lapses that day. "The negligence was vast," Dutch stated, blaming the Secret Service and other security officials for failing to protect the ex-president and the crowd. "I believe there was 100 percent negligence on the Secret Service, probably everybody involved in setting that security, down to inter-department communications," he added.
The aftermath of the shooting has left both men grappling with ongoing health issues. Copenhaver, who now requires a cane for mobility, has lost 30 pounds and experiences frequent pain in his upper body. Dutch, on the other hand, has lost 25 pounds, is unable to drive or carry more than 10 pounds, and requires constant care for his bullet wound. "I never thought I'd be in this position," Dutch lamented. "I was usually the other guy helping other people out."
The incident has sparked multiple investigations and led to the resignation of former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle, who was called before Congress to testify. The agency has been under scrutiny since the incident, particularly as a second assassination attempt on Trump occurred just months later on September 15.
As they await the outcome of these investigations, attorneys representing Dutch and Copenhaver are considering who to hold accountable for the tragedy. The incident has raised serious questions about the effectiveness of security measures at such high-profile events and the potential negligence of those tasked with ensuring public safety. The victims' accounts underscore the urgent need for a thorough examination of these issues to prevent such a tragedy from recurring.
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