Tristan Cooper

 Arizona athletics

Tristan Cooper’s head was spinning.

The hard-hitting Arizona Wildcats safety hadn’t collided with a teammate. He wasn’t confused by an offensive formation.

The senior had returned to the locker room after Arizona’s scrimmage Saturday morning to find out news that shook him to his core.

There had been a mass shooting in El Paso, Texas, where Cooper was born and raised.

“It sucks,” he said Monday night. “You would never think something like that will happen in your city. And when it does, it’s eye-opening.

“A bunch of things start going through your head, because they didn't identify the bodies till like a day ago. It was just like, dang. I don’t know. Something like that, you can't prepare for.”

A gunman opened fire at an El Paso Walmart on Saturday morning, killing 22 people and injuring dozens more, according to media reports. When Cooper found out what happened – via Twitter, initially – the first thing he did was call his parents, Michael and Joyce, to make sure they were OK. Cooper checked up on his brothers – Mike, Jeremiah and Elijah – and his sister, Hannah.

Everyone was safe. Cooper was relieved.

“I’ve got a lot of siblings down there. It’s scary, man,” he said. “All these thoughts are going through your head.”

Cooper urged his family members to stay home. The Coopers had been to the Cielo Vista Mall – a popular shopping center whose stores include the Walmart – countless times.

“That's the only mall we really go to,” Cooper said. “It's crazy. I don't know how to explain it.”

Cooper attended Andress High School, which is about 15 miles north of the Cielo Vista Mall. A team captain and all-city performer, Cooper came to Arizona in the class of 2016.

Cooper has appeared in 35 games for the Wildcats, including 11 starts. He has 76 career tackles and seven passes defensed. He’s slated to start at the Spur safety position this season. Arizona opens the 2019 campaign Aug. 24 at Hawaii.

Cooper never expected his training for the upcoming season to be disrupted by tragedy. He’s still trying to process what happened.

“Anger. Disgust,” Cooper said when asked what was going through his mind. “You don't know why. Why would you do something like that?”

UA safety Tristan Cooper (31) looks down at Oregon receiver Dillon Mitchell after delivering a blow during the Wildcats’ upset win last October.

Cooper thought about making the 4½-hour drive to El Paso after Saturday’s practice. Once he found out his family was safe, he decided it was best to remain in Tucson and focus on his responsibilities here.

As often happens in these situations, the events in El Paso put life into perspective in a way Cooper hadn’t previously considered.

“You live every day as if it’s your last,” he said. “Going through camp, you’re like, ‘Dang, man, why am I here?’ It’s miserable. At least I get another opportunity to see tomorrow.”

Cooper isn’t the first UA player to be affected by a mass shooting. Five Wildcats are from the Las Vegas area. More than 50 people were killed and hundreds were injured when a gunman opened fire at an outdoor concert in Las Vegas in October 2017.

Cooper had been scheduled to speak to the media Monday by pure coincidence. About four minutes into the interview, he was asked if he’d like to shift the subject to football.

“Yes,” Cooper said. “Let’s talk about football. Please.”

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Contact sports reporter Michael Lev at 573-4148 or mlev@tucson.com. On Twitter @michaeljlev