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'It's a miracle': Boy, 5, hurled from shopping centre balcony gets INCREDIBLE test results

The family of Landen Hoffmann have given an update on his condition

By Nikki Black

April 24 2019

A little boy who was hurled from the balcony of a US shopping mall has “zero evidence of brain damage” or spinal injury, his family friend has announced.

Landen Hoffman was at the Mall of America in Minneapolis with his mum on April 12 when a stranger approached him, picked him up and tossed him over the balcony, in front of his horrified mother.

Emmanuel Aranda, 24, of Minneapolis has been charged with attempted premeditated first-degree murder. He allegedly said he was angry after being rejected by a woman at the mall and "was looking for someone to kill".

Landen, has been described as the “sweetest, kindest five-year-old you will ever meet”, landed and suffered from multiple broken bones and head trauma in the 12m fall but incredibly his test results show managed to escape brain and spinal cord injury.

A friend of the family, Pastor Mac Hammond shared the good news with his congregation after the boy’s grandfather phoned him with the results of the brain scan, calling his recovery “truly a miracle”.

In a statement released by the family, they said Landen remained in intensive care “under sedation and close monitoring” and thanked wellwishers for their support.

EARLIER:

The man accused of throwing a little boy, 5, from the third floor of a shopping mall had been BANNED from the shopping centre several years ago.

Witnesses said Emmanuel Deshawn Aranda, 24, either pushed or threw the 5-year-old boy from the third level of the Mall Of America in Minnesota, USA, nearly 40 feet below.

Aranda ran away after the incident, but was found inside the mall's transit station and arrested for attempted homicide.

He had been banned from the shopping centre in 2015 after two incidents. In one he was charged with causing damage inside a store after he threw items from the top floor.

Then, three months later he was caught throwing glasses of ice water and tea at a woman in a restaurant after she refused to buy him food,

Police Chief Jeff Potts said he couldn't reveal details about the child's condition but they were thought to be 'life-threatening'.

"The child is still alive, he's still receiving care, and I think we're just asking for thoughts and prayers for that child to recover," Potts told reporters.

Investigators are trying to establish a motive for the attack as it is not thought there is any relationship between the boy and Aranda.

ORIGINAL STORY:

A five-year-old boy was shockingly thrown from the third floor of a shopping centre in front of his horrified mum - and hundreds of stunned shoppers.

After police were called, Emmanuel Deshawn Aranda, 24, was held at by police after being charged with one count of attempted murder.

The shocking incident happened in the Mall of America shopping centre in the US state of Minnesota when the man allegedly approached the boy and his mother, picked him up and tossed him over edge.

A witness at the shopping centre - regarded as one of the biggest in the US - said the mum immediately became hysterical, screaming for help.

The mall where it happened/Getty

‘She was screaming “Everyone pray, everyone pray. Oh my god, my baby, someone threw him over the edge”,’ witness Brian Johnson told WCCO.

‘She was screaming like a banshee, like there’s no tomorrow. I just don’t know. Everyone was in shock.’

Police chief Jeff Potts said it does not appear the accused had any relationship with the boy or his family - making it a random attack.

A police spokesman said the boy suffered ‘significant injuries’ and is currently in hospital.

The Mall of America said in a statement: ‘Earlier today, Mall of America security was notified of an incident involving a child falling from one of the upper floors.

‘Mall Security responded immediately as well as the Bloomington Police Department. Emergency Services were notified and responded as well. The child was treated at the scene and transported to the hospital. Bloomington Police is investigating the incident.

‘This was a senseless act and words cannot truly express our profound shock and sadness.

‘Our immediate and only concern is for the wellbeing of the family and the child, as well as for any individuals who may have witnessed the incident. We have counselling services available for anyone who may need assistance. We know that this is a concerning event for all of us.’

Our thoughts are with the mum and her son.