Trump supporter who was shot twice during ex-president’s assassination attempt speaks out for the first time after leaving hospital

A Trump supporter who was shot twice during the attempted assassination of the former president last month has spoken for the first time since leaving the hospital.

David Dutch, a 57-year-old Marine, released a statement through his attorney Wednesday night expressing gratitude to everyone for their support since he was shot while standing behind the podium where the former president was speaking on July 13.

He was initially placed in an induced coma due to gunshot wounds to his chest and liver.

“David and his wife Sheree and the rest of the Dutch family would like to express their sincere gratitude for the tremendous support they have received from their friends, their fellow Americans and everyone else, both at home and abroad, who have kept David and his family in their prayers,” the according to a statement to Fox News.

The family also thanked “the brave men and women who saved his life, including, but not limited to, the police officers, the doctors, the rescue helicopter crew and the medical professionals at Allegheny General Hospital, as well as those who continue to care for him as he continues his road to recovery.”

‘Furthermore, David and his family would like to extend their thoughts and prayers to the family of Corey Comperatore, who died a hero while shielding his wife and daughters from oncoming gunfire at the rally, to 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 to President Trump, who did not shrink from danger and continued his fight to Make America Great Again and restore America’s position as the most powerful and economically sound country in the world.’

Both Dutch and the 74-year-old Copenhaver, who was also shot twice and seriously injured, have retained attorneys Nicholas Feldman and Joseph Feldman of Law Offices of Max C Feldman “to best represent their interests as they navigate the most difficult time of their lives.”

Copenhaver is still recovering in a rehabilitation center, according to his attorney. He said he was shot in the arm and abdomen.

“He almost saw or heard something pass by him, which we assume was a bullet,” said attorney Joseph Feldman.

“He felt it on his arm, and he looked at his arm… and he felt pain at first, but he didn’t even realize at that point that he had been shot a second time. It could have been shock.”

James Copenhaver, 74, was also shot twice and seriously wounded

Both Dutch and Copenhaver were at Trump’s rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, when 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks opened fire, missing the former president but killing Corey Competore, 50.

The shooter has been identified as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks

Copenhaver even found chilling footage of the assassination attempt, which shows a shadowy figure running across a rooftop just before the former president was shot.

In the fIn a photo obtained by Fox Digital, the figure is briefly seen on a rooftop overlooking the spot where Trump was cheered by his attendees.

He appears to look at Trump before continuing to run across the roof. At the same time, Trump turns and looks almost directly at his would-be assassin before running away.

Three minutes after the shocking video was recorded, Crooks fired a hail of eight bullets, hitting Trump, Copenhaver and Dutch.

Crooks was eventually killed by a Secret Service sniper, but major questions remain about the security lapses that allowed him to carry out the attack.

Crooks missed the former president, but struck Dutch, Copenhaver and killed Corey Competore, 50

The lone shooter was identified as a suspicious person before the shooting and was seen around the event for hours.

Disturbing footage captured by someone in the crowd shows Crooks sneaking around a building, which he climbs onto 60 Minutes later to gain the perfect vantage point from which to attack Trump.

According to the FBI, he was able to get to the roof of the AGR building by climbing over HVAC equipment and pipes and hopping across several roofs.

Police received a report of a suspicious person near the protest site about 90 minutes before the shooting and took photos of Crooks at the scene.

Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle was forced to resign due to the negative reactions to the blunders.

Crooks’ motive remains unclear and the FBI is still investigating

The FBI is still investigating Crooks’ motive. A classmate told DailyMail.com that he was previously investigated for threats to “shoot up his school” when he was just 15.

The incident was not taken seriously at the time, but is now being investigated by the agency.

In his first interview after the assassination attempt, Trump said he survived “by luck or by God.”