Marine veteran who was shot, injured at Butler Trump rally offers gratitude for support

One of the Trump supporters injured during the attempted assassination of the former president, has spoken publicly for the first time about his ordeal since leaving hospital care. David Dutch, a Marine veteran, survived the Trump assassination attempt on July 13 but suffered two gunshot wounds and was placed in a medically induced coma for treatment.

The 57-year-old issued a statement on Wednesday because he wanted to express his gratitude for the overwhelming support that he and his family have received since the incident. Dutch was standing right behind Trump when the firing started.



Dutch was in critical condition after the attack, having been shot in the chest and liver. Doctors placed him in a medically induced coma. His statement reads as follows: "David and 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 to Fox News said.

The statement continued to 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 the 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.”

Copenhaver, who was also left in critical condition after two gunshot wounds, remains at a rehabilitation center for full recovery. He was hit in the arm and stomach. An assassin’s bullet killed fire chief Corey Competore at the Butler, PA rally. Trump, the principal target, was injured with a bullet to the ear but recovered rapidly.