8-Year-Old Boy Suffers Severed Spine In Highland Park Shooting: Family

Editor's note: As of July 8, Cooper had been upgraded to serious condition and was off the ventilator. The story has been updated to reflect that information.

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — An 8-year-old boy who was shot in the chest while attending the Highland Park 4th of July parade suffered a severed spine but was no longer using a ventilator as of Friday, according to a representative of his family.

Cooper Roberts is in serious condition at University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital after undergoing several surgeries since Monday, including one Wednesday night in which doctors were able to "finally close up his belly," said family friend Tony Loizzi.

On Friday, Loizzi provided an update on Cooper's condition via Twitter, saying that the 8-year-old is awake, and the ventilator has been removed.

"However, doctors confirmed he’s paralyzed from waist down," Loizzi said, asking for continued prayers and donations to a GoFundMe established for the family. "He’s in pain and misses his twin brother, Luke, and dog, George."

Cooper's mother, Zion District 6 Superintendent Keely Roberts, was shot in the leg and underwent multiple surgeries before being released from Skokie Hospital Wednesday, according to Loizzi, who addressed the media on the family's behalf.

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"Quite frankly, she probably should not have been discharged. But she insisted on it so that she could be at her son's side — Cooper, who is at the hospital in the city with her husband," Loizzi said.

"After she had her second surgery, and then she received news that Cooper's spinal cord had been severed, she told her doctors and nurses that they should either discharge her or she would walk out on her own because she needed to be with her son," he said, citing a text message from family members.

Cooper's twin brother, Luke, was also wounded in the shooting, having been treated for shrapnel injuries to his lower body, he said.

"They tried to remove some of it, and others, they said the removal would cause more damage," Loizzi said. "So I believe they left the pieces in him."

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The 8-year-old twins are students at Braeside Elementary School in North Shore School District 112, according to Loizzi.

The Roberts family, Highland Park residents, are among the dozens of people who suffered gunshot wounds when a gunman opened fire with a high-powered rifle from a rooftop overlooking the parade route at the corner of Central Avenue and 2nd Street, authorities said.

According to police, a 21-year-old Highwood resident has confessed to the shooting, which left seven people dead.

Read more: 2-Year-Old Orphaned After Parents Killed In Highland Park Shooting

Loizzi said those who wish to support the Roberts family may contact Kim Hall, the superintendent's administrative assistant, or donate to the GoFundMe campaign on the family's behalf.

Family members believe Cooper's injuries will be life-altering, he said.

"What they've really relayed to me is that it's going to be a new normal for him going forward," he said.

More Patch coverage of the Highland Park July 4 Parade shooting