Highland Park shooting survivor Cooper Roberts, 8, 'excited' to return to school with twin after therapy
HIGHLAND PARK, ILLINOIS: Cooper Roberts' family shared an update on August 9, 2022, that they are expecting their boy to start going to school soon. He will be joining the third grade with his brother Luke in six to 12 weeks at Braeside Elementary School in Highland Park. The 8-year-old is currently undergoing regular physical and occupational therapy at Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago, Illinois.
A spokesperson for the Roberts family said, "This is a huge motivation for Cooper as he is excited to return to the classroom and see his friends. He will likely return to classes for half-days and continue to participate in long-term outpatient physical and occupational therapy at AbiiltyLab for the part of the day."
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Cooper was going to his town's Fourth of July march with his twin Luke and their parents Jason and Keely Roberts when the shooting happened. According to police, Robert "Bobby" Crimo III, the suspected gunman, purportedly moved onto the top of a business and utilized a powerful rifle to release more than 70 rounds on marchers and revelers. Seven people died and more than 38 people were injured.
Keely Roberts, a local school superintendent, said in a statement that a bullet into Cooper's back exited through his chest during the event. It caused "significant damage throughout his body, including to his aorta, liver, esophagus and spinal cord."
Keely Roberts was shot in two parts of her leg and is undergoing orthopedic treatment. Luke, Cooper's twin, was also hit by shrapnel. They both are receiving mental health support after the incident took place. The spokesperson said, "Both Cooper and Luke are participating in private counseling and other mental health services to support their healing from the emotional and psychological trauma of the shooting. Cooper is experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, including flashbacks that are disrupting his sleep."
The boy is still receiving medical care at the University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital. The doctors are continuously monitoring his healing journey from the multiple surgeries he underwent.
The spokesperson added that the family is planning ways to take care of Cooper once he returns home. "They must explore options for long-term housing for their large family as the Roberts' 100-year-old home in Highland Park cannot be reconfigured to accommodate his rehabilitation needs for home-based therapies. They also need a wheelchair-accessible vehicle to support their ability to transport Cooper daily once released from inpatient care," he added.
A GoFundMe account has been created for the Roberts family and they have already collected nearly $2 million.