Five-year-old Boy Fighting For His Life After Being Thrown From Third-Floor Balcony of Mall of America
A five-year-old boy is fighting for his life after being thrown from a third-floor balcony at the Mall of America by a stranger.
Landen Hoffmann was left in a pool of blood after plunging to the marble ground in front of horrified witnesses at the Mall of America in Minnesota, reported.
His frantic Mom screamed: “Oh my God, my baby — someone threw him over the edge” after the horror unfolded on Friday.
Well-wishers have now donated more than $500,000 to his family on a GoFundMe page describing the youngster as “the sweetest kindest five-year-old you will ever meet”.
“Landen has a very long road to recovery ahead of him. He suffered life threatening injuries, many people who fall from that distance aren’t as lucky to make it.” Landen’s cousin April Hoffman has also posted a tribute to the young boy on her Instagram page.
She said: “Please pray for my cousin’s beautiful son Landen.
Emmanuel Deshawn Aranda, 24, was last night charged with attempted murder after being chased down by police following the harrowing incident.
He is not known to Landen — who remains in a critical condition in hospital — or his horrified mum.
Detectives are looking at CCTV from inside the mall. Court records show Aranda was charged in two previous incidents at the mall.
The Mall of America issued a statement on Friday, saying: “This was a senseless act and words cannot truly express our profound shock and sadness.
“Our immediate and only concern is for the well-being of the family and the child, as well as for any individuals who may have witnessed the incident.