Landen Hoffman - 5-year-old boy thrown from mall balcony
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Emmanuel Aranda - Perp
http://www.dailywire.com/news/46304/five-year-old-boy-was-thrown-balcony-mall-america-ashe-schow
By Ashe Schow
The Daily Wire
April 23, 2019
The young boy who was snatched from his mother and thrown from the third-floor balcony at the Mall of America is still in the hospital but appears to be recovering.
Landen Hoffmann was at the mall with his mother on April 12, standing outside the Rainforest Cafe. A man, later identified as 24-year-old Emmanuel Aranda, reportedly asked Hoffmann's mother if he was in their way. She said no, and Aranda allegedly suddenly grabbed five-year-old Landen and threw him over the balcony, according to witnesses and mall security cameras.
Aranda was arrested and charged with first degree attempted premeditated murder. The Daily Mail reported that Aranda had been previously convicted for obstruction of the legal process, fifth-degree assault, trespassing, and damage to property. There was also a warrant out for his arrest in Illinois "stemming from an incident at a Chicago restaurant when he allegedly threatened to slit a employee's neck," the Mail reported.
Aranda reportedly told police he went to the Mall of America on the day of the attack because he had been rejected by women at the mall for several years and was looking to kill someone as revenge.
Hoffmann has been in the hospital since the attack. A GoFundMe account set up to raise money for his hospital bills has now raised $960,000 as of this writing. It originally stated of Hoffman's condition:
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. He has many surgeries ahead in his life to try to get back to a normal life for a young, vibrant boy.
A week after the attack, the fundraising page posted an update:
The power of prayer is simply amazing. We all have been extremely humbled by the outpouring of support and prayers from everyone one. Thank you for showing us there is so much good not only in our community but across the globe. Condition is again similar to previous days, another peaceful night of sleep - small steps towards the healing process. Each new day is a good day. Landen's recovery is expected to be ongoing for a long time, while it's hard to estimate costs, this will change everything for their family and require much of their time and focus.
The latest update, posted Monday night, links to a Fox9 news article quoting Mac Hammond, a pastor at the Hoffmann family's church. Hammond recently gave an update on Hoffmann's condition after the young boy underwent a five-hour MRI test last Friday.
"There was zero evidence of brain damage - there wasn't even swelling," Hammond said. "No spinal chord injury, no nerve damage, no internal injuries that were life-threatening."
Hammond added that the boy had several broken bones. KSTP previously reported that Hoffmann suffered fractures on his face, arm, and leg, and had to have his spleen removed.
Get-well cards for Landen can be addressed to him at PO Box 43516, Brooklyn Park, MN 55443-4200.
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