By Hanna Webster
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
BUTLER, Pa. — Butler Memorial Hospital has confirmed that former president Donald Trump was treated there for injuries sustained during the assassination attempt at a rally on Saturday.
After hospital officials received news of the shooting, the facility went on a three-hour lockdown during which nobody could leave or enter the building, said Karen Allen, president for Butler Memorial and Clarion hospitals.
Ms. Allen and David Rottinghaus, president of the provider network and an emergency room physician, commended the staff involved in the emergency response and expressed condolences to the family of Corey Comperatore, the 50-year-old firefighter and father of two who was killed by gunfire at the rally.
The hospital could not confirm Monday whether any others involved in the shooting were treated at Butler Memorial Hospital.
Two wounded spectators, David Dutch, 57, of Plum, and James Copenhaver, 74, of Moon, were in stable condition Sunday at Allegheny General Hospital on Pittsburgh’s North Side, police said.
The U.S. Secret Service had been in contact with Butler Memorial previously, said Ms. Allen, and it established a response plan for any potential emergencies involving the then-president, back when he spoke at a rally at the Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport in 2020.
“The Secret Service actually came to the hospital and developed the plan should something of this nature happen,” said Ms. Allen. “We were to follow the same plan that was developed when he was here for the airport rally.”
A spokesperson for Independence Health System said discussions about that plan had occurred after the airport rally as well. This plan existed in addition to routine emergency drills the hospital conducts with its staff.
Saturday evening, Ms. Allen received a call that the hospital was asked to be put on lockdown by the Secret Service. Ms. Allen and Dr. Rottinghaus were not at the hospital at that time.
“Myriad” officials, including members of the Secret Service, Homeland Security, FBI, and Pittsburgh and Butler police, guarded the back of the hospital, as well as all conceivable entrances to the building, she said. Ms. Allen does not remember any protesters or disturbances at the hospital while Mr. Trump was being treated.
She and Dr. Rottinghaus received reports from inside the hospital that the collaboration with the Secret Service went smoothly.
“Everybody did what they needed to do to assure that the patients who were there were cared for, and to assure the VIP patient was cared for,” Ms. Allen said. “It was very collegial and professional the entire time.”
Dr. Rottinghaus helped set up a kind of triage station outside the hospital to care for patients who visited Butler Memorial’s emergency department during the lockdown but could not be let inside.
“We had emergency room staff who were outside, then we set up a little area, and then Dr. Rottinghaus arrived, and we cared for those patients, right there on-site outside of the hospital,” explained Ms. Allen. “We were able to treat and discharge them. That was pretty remarkable.”
The team was able to use medical supplies from ambulances parked outside, and it communicated with hospital staff inside to acquire necessary equipment to treat patients outdoors.
“It was an awful tragedy that occurred,” said Ms. Allen. “You see people rise to the level that they need to deal with situations like this. We’re super proud of our staff.”
This occurred in addition to a handful of Butler Memorial medical staff who volunteered at the rally to treat heat-related injuries throughout the day. Dr. Rottinghaus said more than 200 patients at the rally were treated.
“It’s very safe to say that they did an outstanding job receiving, treating and taking care of those who largely had difficulties with the heat and heat-related illness,” he said. “They did an outstanding job. They had great resources, and they were well-prepared. ... We commend their efforts.”
Butler Memorial Hospital extends its condolences to Corey Comperatore’s family, said Dr. Rottinghaus, and hopes for a swift recovery for everyone who was injured.
“There’s certainly a great feeling of sadness that this happened locally, and that we lost a life at the rally,” he said.
Ms. Allen called the event and Mr. Trump’s presence at the hospital “surreal.”
“We’re grateful for the support from the community,” added Dr. Rottinghaus. “We’re grateful for the support from the Secret Service and local police, the FBI, our hospital’s security personnel and those that were providing care at the event. And certainly to all our employees within our health system for doing a great job.”
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