Cooper Roberts, 8-year-old boy paralyzed after Highland Park shooting, goes outside for the first time since July 4

Cooper Roberts, the eight-year-old boy who was paralyzed in the Highland Park shooting is recovering. Here’s the full story.

Cooper Roberts finally goes outside and enjoys a popsicle

Cooper Roberts, the eight-year-old injured in the mass shooting is on the way to recovery. For the first time in 19 days, he went outside and enjoyed a popsicle. The boy after being shot was left paralyzed from the waist down. The shooting on the Fourth of July killed seven and wounded several.

According to Anthony Loizzi, the family spokesperson, Cooper’s progress has been “up and down”. He remains in the pediatric intensive care unit at Comer Children’s Hospital in Chicago.

Cooper was shot in the stomach and suffered a severed spine. Additionally, the shooting also injured his twin, Luke, and his mother.

“Please keep sending love and prayers to my son as he continues to fight as hard as he can,” stated Keely Roberts, Cooper’s mother. She is a superintendent of a local school.

“A tear in Cooper’s esophagus continues to heal from surgeries, and the popsicle marked the first time Cooper was able to take liquid by mouth. He was downgraded to serious condition briefly yesterday but moved back to critical based on the latest CT scan. The spiking fever has returned, off and on, likely due to this infection,” stated Loizzi.

Cooper underwent multiple surgeries and was previously on a ventilator. When he regained consciousness, Cooper asked to see his brother and dog, George, Loizzi said.

More on the health update

Loizzi also revealed that the Roberts family is very grateful and humbled by the support they’re receiving.

The Milwaukee Brewers, Cooper’s favorite baseball team sent a special care package. Loizzi stated that the jersey with his name “really lifted his spirits”.

This update comes as the North Shore community is grieving the loss of loved ones in the Highland Park shooting. Several people are speaking about the changes that need to come into effect.

On Wednesday, Nancy Rotering, the Mayor of Highland Park testified before a Senate hearing on assault weapons.

“Less than a minute is all it took for a person with an assault weapon to shoot 83 rounds into a crowd, forever changing so many lives. And the most disturbing part? This is the norm in our country,” stated Rotering. “How do we call this freedom?” she asked.