Eight-year-old victim paralyzed from gunshot wound after Highland Park mass shooting

Jenny Goldsberry

July 08, 07:04 PM July 08, 07:52 PM

An 8-year-old boy suffered an injury that resulted in paralysis from the waist down as a result of a gunshot wound he sustained during the Highland Park, Illinois, mass shooting on the Fourth of July.

Cooper Roberts suffered a severed spinal cord when he was caught in the gunfire on Monday that killed seven people and wounded 36 others. His brother Luke and mother, Dr. Keely Roberts, were also among the injured.

"It's been a very emotional time for everybody in their circle," Roberts family spokesman Anthony Loizzi said. "And, you know, if you know Keely, she's just a fighter. It sounds like Cooper got that part of her. He's fighting as hard as he can."

GUN LAW SHOWN TO BE INEFFECTIVE FOLLOWING HIGHLAND PARK SHOOTING

Both Keely and Cooper have required several surgeries during their recovery. A GoFundMe on the Roberts family's behalf has raised over $900,000 for their medical bills. Zion Elementary School District 6 is also accepting donations, as Keely is its superintendent.

"Cooper’s medical status has been upgraded to serious, which is a very positive development. He is conscious for the first time and been removed from the ventilator, but in a great deal of pain," an update reads. "At this time, the doctors do not believe that he suffered any brain damage or cognitive impact from the shooting."

G3 Box News

The suspected shooter has been charged with seven counts of first-degree murder and will likely face more counts tied to the dozens injured during Monday's attack, the prosecutor announced Wednesday.