Highland Park Shooting Survivor Cooper Roberts Returns To School

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — The 8-year-old boy who was paralyzed in the Highland Park 4th of July parade mass shooting was able to attend third grade for the first time this week.

It was an "incredible milestone" for Cooper Roberts, who had been cheerfully counting down the days until he would be able to be reunited with students and staff at Braeside Elementary School, according to an update from his family.

Roberts is learning to cope with his new reality, even as he and his family confront anxiety about the uncertainty of his transition. Roberts' parents said they were too nervous to sleep on the eve of his first day of school — but he loved every of minute of it.

“If I had not been shot, paralyzed, and had to be in a wheelchair, it would have been a perfect school day, but it was a really great day," Roberts said, according to his family. "I loved it!”

Roberts' return to school to join his twin brother and see his friends again had been a huge motivation through the months of rehabilitation leading to his return to his family's Highland Park home.

His family said Roberts continues to need hours of rehabilitation every day and will need to be constantly re-evaluated, so his transition back to school will be gradual.

As they celebrate their son's clearing the "huge hurdle" of returning to school for the first time, the Roberts family acknowledged that his return to school is not without pain and sadness.

"Beyond the physical impact of the shooting, the impact of the trauma on all of us is always, always just below the surface; waiting to rear its ugly head," the Roberts family said.

"He is terribly sad about not getting to run around with his friends in the field at recess. He is heartbroken about not getting to play on the jungle gym, hang on the monkey bars, slide down the slide, swing on the swings, kick the ball. He can’t be there all day or even every day. He sees the things he cannot do," his family said.

"Yet, Cooper continues to affirm for us that his spirit, his soul, his 'Cooperness' remains. The hideous, evil act did not take that from him because he won’t let it," they continued. "He is always going to be more concerned about others than he is for himself, find the positive in any situation, still be 'the sporty kid,' and will always love his family and friends fiercely. That is who Cooper has always been and that is who he still is. "

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A fundraiser to support Cooper Roberts is planned for 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Whiskey River Bar & Grill, 1850 Waukegan Road in Glenview. The family-friendly event will feature music, magic, face-painting and raffles, with proceeds going directly to the Roberts family.

The family is also accepting donations through an online fundraiser to support their ongoing medical and housing needs.

Roberts family asked for continued prayers on their son as he continues his journey of recovery.

"Without a shadow of a doubt," they said, "we believe that Cooper’s incredible story of survival against all odds and his continued story of healing is a result of the love and prayers he has received from so many people from around the world."

Earlier: Highland Park Shooting Survivor Cooper Roberts Returns Home From Rehab