One of two men who was injured when a 20-year-old gunman opened fire at a Trump rally has been identified as a US Marine Corps veteran.
David Dutch, 57, was shot in the liver and chest Saturday night, according to a post by the Marine Corps League, of which he is a member.
He had recently been installed as commander of the Westmoreland County Marine Corps League Detachment No. 1416. TribLive reports.
“He underwent surgery and will undergo another this morning,” District 8 Deputy Commander Matt Popovich said in the post.
‘He is currently in an induced coma.’
One of the men seriously injured at a Trump rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday has been identified as 57-year-old David Dutch.
“Please keep him and his family in your prayers,” Popovich pleaded.
‘I’m sure there will be a lot of anguish and anger at this news, but be careful how you express it; neither verbally nor physically will help, but prayers and compassion will.’
One of Dutch’s neighbors, William Pepper, described him as a “nice guy.”
He and his girlfriend recalled how Dutch came to their aid last month when their dog died and “carried the dog to the car.” according to the New York Post.
Dutch and another Pennsylvania shooting victim, James Copenhaver, 74, are now in stable condition, Pennsylvania State Police Col. Christopher Paris announced Sunday.
A third victim, Corey Comperatore, 50, was tragically killed when 20-year-old gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire at the Trump rally.
His family has told how Comperatore shielded his young daughter and wife from the gunfire.
“These victims and their families are certainly in our thoughts today,” Paris said.
Corey Comperatore, 50, was tragically killed when 20-year-old gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire at Trump’s rally.
Gov. Josh Shapiro has since ordered flags to be flown at half-staff in Comperatore’s honor, while praising the former volunteer firefighter as a hero for throwing himself on top of his family to protect them from the hail of bullets.
“Corey threw himself at his family to protect them last night, he died a hero, he was the best of us,” the governor said at a news conference Sunday afternoon, adding that the father of two called himself a “dad of girls” and a firefighter.
“Corey went to church every Sunday because he loved his community. And most of all, Corey loves his family. Corey was a fervent supporter of the former president and he was very excited to be there last night with him in the community,” the governor said.
Meanwhile, a GoFundMe has been created for the surviving victims, along with Comperatore’s family, raised more than $3.5 millionwith the contribution of more than 48,000 people.
One donor told Comperatore’s family: ‘There are no words I can put into a prayer that will make them feel better.
“No one should ever have to see that,” he said.
“Your father/husband was a hero and we are so sorry for your loss,” Stephanie Muma wrote.
‘For the other seriously injured, we hope that they will overcome this situation and make a full recovery.’
The shooter has been identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks.
The offenders opened fire with an AR-style rifle from a rooftop 130 yards from the MAGA event in Butler, Pennsylvania.
Another contributor wrote that his heart goes out to the families affected by senseless violence.
‘It’s a stark reminder of the importance of compassion and community.
“I hope my contribution can help provide some relief during these difficult times,” he continued.
‘Together we must work towards a future in which these types of events no longer occur.
“Let us stand together in support and healing.”
Trump was shot in the right ear after turning his head to look at a video screen
The former president was seen clutching his head and crouching as screams from terrified onlookers ran out.
Trump was also shot in the right ear by Crooks, who opened fire with an AR-style rifle from a rooftop 130 yards from the MAGA event in Butler, Pennsylvania.
The former president was seen clutching his head and crouching as screams from terrified onlookers ran out.
He then stood up, clenched his fist and shouted “fight, fight, fight” as the Secret Service quickly carried him off the stage and into a motorcade.
In an interview Sunday, Trump revealed how turning his head to look at a video screen may have saved his life at the Butler, Pennsylvania, rally and how he wanted to keep speaking after gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks hit him in the right ear.
On Sunday he said: “I rarely look away from the crowd. If I hadn’t done that at that moment, well, we wouldn’t be talking today, would we?”
Trump noted that he had turned slightly to the right so he could read a graphic about illegal immigrants.
“The most incredible thing was that I not only turned around, but I turned around at exactly the right time and just the right amount,” he added, saying he survived “either by luck or by God.”
The former president addressed the now-iconic moment when he raised his fist and said “fight” before a stunned audience in an interview on Sunday.
“If I just turn around, it hits the back of my brain. The other side goes right through my skull. And because the sign was high up, I look up. The odds of me making a perfect turn are probably one-tenth of one percent, so I shouldn’t be here.”
“I’m not supposed to be here, I’m supposed to be dead,” Trump told the New York Post. “I’m supposed to be dead.”
“Because the object was an eighth of an inch away. For me to turn around exactly at that second, when he (the gunman) didn’t stop his shot, is pretty amazing. Pretty amazing. I’m really not supposed to be here.”
Trump turned his head at the crucial moment and ended up with a bloody ear. His Secret Service team rushed him off the stage, but not before saluting his supporters with a clenched fist.
The former president referred to the now-iconic moment when he raised his fist and said “fight” before the stunned audience.
“A lot of people say it’s the most iconic photo they’ve ever seen,” Trump said. “They’re right and I didn’t die. Normally you have to die to have an iconic photo.”
He said he wanted his fans to know he was OK “and that America is moving forward, that we’re moving forward, that we’re strong.”
“The energy that was coming from the people at that moment, they just stood there; it’s hard to describe what I felt, but I knew the world was watching. I knew history would judge this and I knew I had to let them know that we were OK,” Trump added.