Highland Park to mark 2 years since parade shooting; mother speaks on youngest's victim health

HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. (WLS) -- Thursday marks two years since the deadly mass shooting at Highland Park's Fourth of July parade.

ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

The mother of the youngest shooting survivor, Cooper Roberts, shared an update on his health journey Wednesday.

The 10-year-old was paralyzed from the waist down in the 2022 shooting, which also injured his twin brother and mother.

His mother, Keely, said he has really taken to adaptive sports.

"Cooper has become like the world's biggest adaptive sled hockey fan," she said. "Cooper is playing sled hockey like crazy. He loves it."

The mother of six said Cooper has a new love for basketball, as well, after no longer being able to play soccer.

"Cooper loved soccer," she said. "Cooper's choices were stolen violently from him."

Last week, the suspected shooter, Robert Crimo III, rejected a plea deal, which came as a surprise to many victims and survivors.

Cooper's mother shared how his decision impacted her family.

"This is really hard," she added. "Justice delayed is nothing. There's nothing healing, or restorative or comforting about justice delayed, especially justice delayed in a way that feels cruel."

Keely Roberts said her family will likely never attend Highland Park's parade again, as they try to instead focus on moving forward.

"It's been 730 days since I was able to walk hand-in-hand with my sweet, sweet Cooper," she said. "It is literally impossible to describe what it's like to have a total stranger try to kill you and your family."

Cooper's mother said, while her family may never have closure, they've found comfort in the outpouring of support.

"As damaging and hurtful that this dark evil did to our lives, it is balanced, even overweight, by the goodness and the light and the love," she said.

The Roberts family will be heading out of town Thursday to take some time to reflect on the past few years together.

Seven people were killed and dozens of others were wounded in the Highland Park parade shooting.

READ ALSO | Highland Park shooting victim's family sues Smith & Wesson for allegedly marketing guns to teens

Crimo is next due in court in August.

The city of Highland Park will host its Fourth of July parade on Thursday along a new route. It will also hold a remembrance ceremony for the shooting victims.

It will start on Laurel Avenue at First Street. The parade ends at Sunset Woods Park, where the park district's Fourth Fest will take place.