8-year-old boy paralyzed after gun shot severed his spinal cord during Highland Park attack

The Highland Park shooting left an 8-year-old boy with a severed spinal cord, leaving him paraplegic from the waist down.

“Cooper Roberts was shot in the chest and sustained catastrophic wounds, including a spinal cord amputation. Family friend Anthony Loizzi claimed at a news conference that the man is now unconscious and on a ventilator and in a critical but stable condition.

8-year-old boy paralyzed after Highland Park parade shooting: 'Cooper continues to fight' via USATODAY https://t.co/QBlutPR5WI pic.twitter.com/wjajPHHksq

— Jeffrey Levin 🇺🇦 (@jilevin) July 8, 2022

Cooper was one of several dozen people who were hurt when a shooter opened fire at the crowd while they were watching the town’s Fourth of July parade with their parents and twin brother.

A grandfather and the parents of a two-year-old boy were among the seven fatalities.

We. Don’t. Have. To.
Live. Like. This.

RIP #HighlandPark victims.
📸: @briancassella pic.twitter.com/Cjm9g42hh0

— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) July 4, 2022

Keely Roberts and her son Cooper were both shot, according to a GoFundMe created to raise money for the family’s medical expenses. Luke, Cooper’s brother, suffered shrapnel wounds. After receiving treatment, the hospital let him go.

Keely was wounded in the foot and leg, and since then, she has had multiple operations. She demanded to be released so she could be by Cooper’s side.

Cooper sustained more serious wounds. The 8-year-old is currently in critical but stable condition after undergoing “several procedures.”

But the medical professionals have established that he will be paralyzed below the waist.

Cooper’s family members are positive and call him a fighter despite his current circumstances.

If you know Keely, you know that she’s just a fighter, and Loizzi added that Cooper appears to have some of Keely’s battling spirit because he is putting out his best effort.

Robert E. Crimo III, 21, was accused of seven charges of murder on Tuesday.

More families having to deal with this nightmare is tragic. When will we start to understand?

My prayers will continue to go out to all of those who find themselves victims of this senseless violence.