Roberts was paralyzed from the waist down when he was shot in the back. Police allege deranged gunman Robert “Bobby” Crimo, 21, killed seven with a sniper rifle at the parade and wounded dozens, including Roberts, his brother and mother. The boy, who has a twin brother, was briefly upgraded to “serious” condition over the weekend when he was taken off a ventilator and briefly regained his ability to speak. Roberts’ first words were to ask for his brother, Luke, and his dog, George, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. However, this progress would be short-lived. Roberts was back in critical condition Tuesday after one of his lungs partially collapsed and an infection sent his fever soaring, family spokesman Anthony Loici said. “Cooper’s condition is now critical,” Loici wrote on Facebook on Tuesday. “He just went through a dangerous, extensive and lengthy surgery to try and repair his esophagus again. His fever is skyrocketing due to an infection and one of his lungs has partially collapsed. Please, all prayers are very much needed today.” Loizzi could not be reached at numbers listed under his name Tuesday. A GoFundMe had raised nearly $1.4 million for Roberts by Tuesday afternoon. The boy’s family used the fundraising site to post updates about his health, including a heartbreaking post on Tuesday. “This is the seventh surgery and is particularly high risk given his age and current condition,” wrote organizer Georgette Topali. “…Please continue to keep Cooper in your prayers and thoughts as the next 24 to 48 hours will be extremely difficult for him.” The boy’s mother, Keely Roberts, was shot in her leg and foot but recovered. A local superintendent, her school district released a statement Sunday saying Keely was suffering “physically and emotionally.” The statement also thanked the doctors, nurses and first responders who have fought to keep Roberts alive over the past week. “The family wishes to recognize and thank the many, many people—emergency physicians, police, fire, nurses and doctors at both hospitals—who did extraordinary things to save Cooper’s life,” the statement said. “It was a true miracle.”
