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18-year-old shooting victim mourned at former high school's football game

Posted at 4:08 PM, Aug 19, 2017
and last updated 2017-08-20 12:54:21-04

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Two days after 18-year-old Roosevelt Cooper was shot and killed, members of the community honored his life before the Hogan Prep football game Saturday.

What if life was like a football game? Regardless of the score, everyone makes it to the fourth quarter; the end of the game. 

“I want this to be a safe place for everybody,” said Iley Simmons.

Outside the lines of a football field, everyone doesn’t get to finish in the fourth quarter of their life. 

“A friend called my phone and said did you hear about Rosie? Something happened at the Save-A-Lot parking lot. I was like I am right around the corner,” said Simmons.

That’s when Iley Simmons found out his friend since the third grade was shot and killed.

“He had a future, he was going off to college yesterday,” said Simmons.

Cooper played basketball and football for Hogan Prep. Roosevelt Cooper would have been starting his freshman year of college at Missouri State University next week. 

Friday, Central High School agreed to move the game between the schools to Saturday.

“We do know it was senseless, it's a loss of life, it is promise that will never be achieved," said Anthony Madry, principal of Central High School.

Madry said young people need to value life more and turn away from violence. 

“Some people think you can just push a reset button and life will start over again, that is not what happens,” said Madry.

At Saturday's game, Rosie was with his team in spirit. A single rose in the hands of many. 

Simmons says he just wants violence in his community to end. 

“Like man, this was a friend, this was my brother, he got his life taken for some bull-crap like that,” said Simmons. “He was just an up lifter, he was someone everyone could be cool with. He made everyone laugh, he was always hype. He always kept everyone going.”

Hogan Prep beat Central High School 28-22.