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Young Boy Paralyzed During July 4th Mass Shooting Released From ICU
Cooper Roberts has finally been released from an Illinois ICU, one month after he and his family were shot in the Highland Park mass shooting during an Independence Day parade.
A child gravely injured and paralyzed in the Highland Park shooting has been released from an Illinois ICU unit.
After almost one month of being in the pediatric intensive care unit at the University of Chicago’s Comer Children's Hospital, Cooper Roberts, 8, has been released and transferred to the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab (formerly the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago), according to a Monday statement provided to Oxygen.com by a spokesperson representing his family.
“This week, the AbilityLab medical team will meet with Cooper and his family to conduct a series of comprehensive assessments and determine the appropriate physical and occupational therapy, as well as other rehabilitation and mental health services, to support Cooper in regaining his strength and reaching his maximum potential moving forward,” the statement reads.
The statement noted that Roberts is able to eat solid foods now, “including one of his favorites, mac-and-cheese.
“He was also able to visit with his dog, George — a happy reunion for them both,” it states.
Roberts was one of the dozens of people injured during the mass shooting at the July 4th parade in Highland Park, Illinois on Monday. Seven people were killed — including Irina and Kevin McCarthy, whose murders left their two-year-old son orphaned.
Roberts was also at the parade with his parents and twin brother when he was struck by gunfire. A spokesperson for his family previously told Oxygen.com via email that Cooper was "shot in the chest and suffered a severed spinal cord injury in the Highland Park, Illinois Independence Day parade." They confirmed that doctors believe Cooper is paralyzed from the waist down.
Roberts' mother, Keely, was shot in the leg and foot area during the shooting and has also undergone multiple operations. His twin brother Luke was treated and released last month for injuries from bullet fragments.
The alleged shooter, Robert E. Crimo, III, 21, has been hit with 117 charges, including 21 counts of first-degree murder for the mass shooting. He pleaded not guilty to the charges on Wednesday, CNN reports.
