He remains in the hospital sedated and on a ventilator in critical but stable condition, Loizzi said. “It’s going to be a new normal for him moving forward,” Loizzi said. “It sounds (like) he’s going to have significant trouble moving forward, especially with walking.” Cooper and his twin, Luke, loved the parade, Loici said. This beloved event ended in tragedy when a gunman began firing a semi-automatic rifle into the crowd from a rooftop. Seven people were killed and dozens more — including Roberts — were injured. Luke suffered shrapnel injuries, was treated and released and is now recovering at home, Loici said. Their mother, Keely Roberts, was “shot in the leg and foot area” and underwent several surgeries, the spokesman added. She has since been discharged because she insisted she wanted to be by Cooper’s side in the hospital, Loizzi said. Cooper and Luke also have four older sisters, according to the spokesperson. A verified GoFundMe campaign has been set up to support the family.
A baseball fan and a fighter
Cooper has always been very active, loved baseball — and sports in general — and is a fan of the Milwaukee Brewers, Loici said. The twin brothers are “best friends, partners in crime,” Cooper’s older sister said in a statement. “Cooper has never met a stranger in his life – everyone he meets is his best friend (second only to Luke),” her statement said. “He’s also incredibly athletic – he loves football, riding his bike, baseball (Go Brew Crew – about a week ago he went to his first Brewers game and couldn’t love it more) and soccer (Go Pack Go) . He is so studious and loves to read – a literal bookworm. Maybe that’s why he’s the funniest, most engaging storyteller you’ll ever meet.” “There is nothing this kid can’t do and there are no words for the amount of goodness in him,” he added. Cooper has undergone multiple surgeries since the shooting. But like his mother, Cooper is a fighter, Loizzi said. “If you know Keely, she’s just a fighter and it sounds like Cooper has that part of her in him because she fights as hard as she can,” Loizzi said. Kiley Roberts is the superintendent of Zion Elementary School District 6, a school district in northeastern Illinois. In a statement, district officials said they hoped Cooper “would be OK, but we know his medical bills will be significant as will the treatment that follows.” “Please pray for Cooper’s speedy recovery. Any help you can offer — thoughts, prayers or donations is greatly appreciated,” the district’s statement said. Loizzi, who said he knows Roberts through her work, described her as always devoted to her students, working “around the clock” and emailing him even into the wee hours of the morning, “worrying about the students in her schools and how it can support and serve them.” “She’s been a school principal for many, many years and she’s served many districts and I’m just constantly amazed … (by) how she gives of herself, works hard day and night to serve students and families in the public schools.” Loizzi said. “And now she and her family need our support.” CNN’s Ashley Killough contributed to this report.
