Honor Cooper Schoenke: Prevent Future Tragedies

Cooper Schoenke was killed on Monday, April 14 when a car being pursued by a state trooper collided with his on Moreland Avenue in Atlanta's Little Five Points neighborhood. He was just 19 years old.

We are grieving the loss of our beloved Cooper, a kind and loving son, brother and friend. He was a gentle soul with a big heart that matched his height. He had a dry sense of humor, and was a master of comedic timing. He loved music, and that his job at the Fox Theatre allowed him to be immersed in it. He grew up in Atlanta. His grandfather, John Patrick Crecine, was the former president of Georgia Tech and helped bring the Olympics to Atlanta. Like his grandfather, Cooper loved this city and the Little Five Points neighborhood. He cared deeply about equality, this community and his neighbors.

A mother losing a child is an unthinkable tragedy, made worse only by the fact that this fatal accident could have been prevented. In honor of Cooper, we'll be advocating for responsible change to Georgia State Patrol's pursuit policy, in hopes of preventing even one more innocent life being lost.