8-Year-Old Paralyzed In July 4 Shooting Returns To School | “It’s An Incredible Milestone For a Little Boy"

Survivor of Highland Park Shooting Returns To School After Rehabilitation

Cover Image Source: GoFundMe | Roberts Family

By Rima Biswas

October 12, 2022

Posted October 12, 2022

The 4th of July shooting incident at Highland Park, Illinois shocked the entire nation of the United States and also left an eight-year-old victim Cooper Roberts paralyzed and bound to a wheelchair. But the young survivor has finally made his way back to resume school after several months of rehabilitation and treatment. According to a statement made by the Roberts family, the third grader is set to start a new chapter in his life as he undergoes weekly therapy to make a steady recovery and remains under medical supervision. The family also said that it’s an incredible milestone for a little boy who almost three months to the day of his first day of third grade had been desperately fighting for his life from critical gunshot wounds and now uses a wheelchair, reported The Hill.

“It’s an incredible milestone for a little boy who almost three months to the day of his first day of third grade had been desperately fighting for his life from critical gunshot wounds and is now wheelchair-bound,” said the Roberts family. The family celebrates a fresh start for their eight-year-old boy while reeling with a mix of emotions which is caused due to the trauma they have endured in the past few months. Cooper Roberts is coming to terms with the fact that he won’t be able to participate in activities like he used to and he won’t be able to play with his friends in the field or recreational parks. According to a statement made by the family, Cooper came home from his first day of third grade remarking how it would have been a perfect school day for him, if he wasn’t shot and had to be in a wheelchair — but it was a really great day for him and he loved it.

According to the reports of The Guardian, a gunman fired on the 4th of July parade-goers from the rooftop in the Highland Park area. It caused the deaths of at least six people and wounded 30 others in yet another mass killing in the United States. The survivors of the heinous incident filed 11 lawsuits in the last month against the manufacturer of the rifle used by the gunman to carry out the massacre. They accused gunmaker Smith and Wesson of illegally targeting its advertisements at young generations and playing a part in influencing them to commit mass violence.

The authorities nabbed the offender, 21-year-old Robert E. Crimo III, hours after the attack, and confessed to the cops. Prosecutors confiscated the Smith and Wesson M&P 15 semiautomatic rifle from Crimo which was used by him to fire on the parade. As reported by Marca, Robert admitted to suffering from depression and using drugs in his teenage years. The 21-year-old convict faces 21 counts of first-degree murder, 48 counts of attempted murder, and 48 counts of aggravated battery.