8-year-old paralyzed in Highland Park parade shooting celebrates ‘milestone’ return to school

One of the youngest victims injured in the deadly Highland Park parade shooting on July 4 is making major strides in recovery and finally went back to school this week. 

Cooper Roberts, an eight-year-old boy who was paralyzed when a gunman shot into a crowd at an Independence Day parade in a suburb outside of Chicago, returned to the classroom after months of recovery. 

The milestone is a big one for Cooper, his twin brother, Luke, and his parents. 

‘We were so nervous, we couldn’t sleep the night before his first day back. We cried in the parking lot as he wheeled himself into the school, cried as we pulled out of the parking lot,’ Cooper’s parents said. 

Luke was also hospitalized after the shooting with shrapnel wounds in his lower body. He was discharged after doctors removed some of the debris, although they were unable to remove it all. 

It has been a long road to recovery for eight-year-old Cooper Roberts who was injured during the shooting at the Highland Park Independence Day parade 

Cooper’s spinal cord was severed and his vertebrae was broken during the shooting 

Cooper (left) and Luke (right) were both injured in the shooting, but Luke was discharged shortly after. Doctors were able to remove most of the shrapnel that had entered his body

Cooper’s family said that one of the most difficult parts about his long hospital stay was being away from his twin brother, Luke, who was unable to visit often due to COVID-19 

Cooper celebrated his first day of third grade with a smile after his ‘remarkable’ recovery, having lost his ability to walk just months ago 

The family released a statement Monday, sharing the happy news that both boys have kicked off third grade, according to ABC 7 in Chicago.

For Cooper, the journey back to school has been long and hard. 

The boy was hospitalized for weeks after the shooting, and Cooper’s family was unsure he’d ever make it back to school after the horrific shooting.

But on Monday, Cooper did what they thought was the impossible. And his parents were able to watch him head to school once again.

‘We were just a mess! He loved every minute, and his exact words were, “If I had not been shot, paralyzed, and had to be in a wheelchair, it would have been a perfect school day, but it was a really great day! I loved it,”‘ Keely and Jason Roberts, Cooper’s parents, said. 

For Luke and Cooper, having each other after the shooting was critical to their recovery

While Luke was able to return to school in a more conventional fashion, Cooper’s journey back included months of hospital stays and rehabilitation 

His family said that he will slowly transition back to school, making sure not to rush him into the process until he’s ready. 

The slow reintegration is also due in part to continued care and therapy needed.  

According to a GoFundMe set up for Cooper’s recovery costs, the eight-year-old required- and still requires- extensive medical care for his array of injuries. 

After being shot on July 4, Cooper was life-flighted to a special hospital in Chicago, underwent numerous surgeries, was placed on a ventilator and intubated multiple times, went days without food before finally being placed on a liquid diet, and continues to deal with a ‘significant, rigorous, and ongoing’ rehab schedule. 

Cooper suffers from a severe spinal cord injury in which his vertebrae were broken. 

In Cooper’s case, the spinal cord itself was severed, resulting in a diagnosis of paralysis from the waist down. 

Even with a severe diagnosis, Cooper has attempted to make the best out of his life, his parents say. The young boy has stayed as active as he can in new ways 

The battle has made every moment ‘remarkable’ for his parents and family. 

‘It has been one of the most humbling and hopeful experiences of our lives to watch our precious 8-year-old, who has had so much cruelly and violently ripped away from him, his life needlessly and forever changed, so cheerfully and excitedly count down the days leading to his return to school,’ Cooper’s parents said.

Despite the major step forward the child made this week, his mom and dad say that he still has anxiety over his paralysis and how his diagnosis will impact his life. 

‘These run across his mind and ours literally all day long, like an endless reel of worry,’ Cooper’s parents said. ‘We all are learning how to cope with these components of our new reality.’

Realities like a life without the monkey bars, gym class, and playing on the playground equipment. 

Before his injury, Cooper was an active child who loved playing on the jungle gym and running around with his friends on the playground

Doctors believe that Cooper’s injury will preclude him from walking ever again 

‘Cooper’s return to school is not without sadness and pain… He sees the things he cannot do,’ his parents said.

Even with the feeling of helplessness that his parents have said he’s felt over the past several months, everyone in his life is proud of how far he’s come. 

‘He has been so unbelievably brave and genuinely so overjoyed to return to school,’ Cooper’s parents said. ‘It was a huge hurdle, and we pray his positive feelings can continue.’

The GoFundMe set up for Cooper has been a spot for those interested in following the young boy’s progress, as well as a place for those looking to help the family in need out. 

More than $2 million has been raised for Cooper’s recovery in the months since the shooting that left the boy paralyzed. 

Cooper’s recovery included extensive physical therapy and rehabilitation both inside and outside of the hospital 

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The eight-year-old had his family by his side throughout the months long recovery, which included surgeries, rehab, and hospital stints 

Still smiling, Cooper is learning to adjust to his life in a wheelchair, his family says 

The money raised will go towards ‘treatments, therapy, and all of the equipment, devices and adaptations to their home,’ according to the fund. 

‘Cooper has a long, long road ahead of him in rehabilitation on his journey of recovery,’ they said. ‘We believe that Cooper’s story is just beginning and that he can, and will, show the world that there is no greater power in the world than the power of love.’

The GoFundMe is just one of many set up for victims of the Highland Park parade shooting.

Seven people were killed and more than four dozen were injured when a gunman shot into the crowd attending the suburban parade.

The 21-year-old man accused in the shooting, Robert ‘Bobby’ Crimo, pleaded not guilty in August to 117 counts, including 21 counts of first-degree murder. 

Robert ‘Bobby’ Crimo is accused of killing seven people and injuring more than four dozen in the shooting at the Highland Park Independence Day parade 

The multiple first-degree murder charges allege Crimo intended to kill, caused death or great bodily harm and took action with a strong probability of causing death or great bodily harm on the seven people who died. 

Crimo is believed to have used a rifle ‘similar to an AR-15’ to spray more than 70 rounds from atop a commercial building into a crowd attending the parade. 

Estimates say that there were some 30,000 people in attendance that day.  

Investigators said after the shooting that they believed Crimo had dressed as a woman to carry out the deadly Independence Day attack. 

The 21-year-old owned multiple weapons, including two rifles. One of the rifles he owned was found in his car after the shooting.