The 5-year-old boy who was hurled from a third-floor balcony at the Mall of America on April 12 has exited intensive care, his family said in an update.
Landen Hoffman, the boy, was thrown from the balcony by Emmanuel Aranda, who told police officers he went to the mall that day looking for someone to murder.
Aranda, 24, pleaded guilty in May and was sentenced to 19 years in prison on June 3.
In an update this week, Landen’s family said the boy has been moved out of intensive care.
PRAYERS FOR LANDEN: The parents of a 5-year-old Landen Hoffman, who was thrown from a third-floor balcony at the Mall of America in April, said Tuesday that their son remains in intensive care due to severe complications from the attack. https://t.co/zcdJgILOxW
— Eyewitness News WTVO/WQRF (@MyStateline) June 26, 2019
“The Lord is good, and we are thankful. We are happy to report that our son is no longer in intensive care and has been moved to an inpatient, physical rehab program at another hospital to help him continue to heal and focus on the next phase of his recovery,” the family said in a statement, which was shared by a friend on a GoFundMe fundraising page.
“There is hard work ahead! And, our beautiful boy has endured much already, but he is strong and his spirit remains vibrant,” the family added. “We continue to be eternally grateful for every prayer, every act of kindness and the love this world has show[n] us throughout this journey. Thank You.”
The optimistic tone struck a contrast with the last update, which was posted on June 25.
The family had said that it was a miracle that Landen even survived “the severe trauma he suffered” but acknowledged that he “has been on a very challenging road to recovery.”
“It has been so hard for our young son and our family. Up until now we have let our hopes govern what we have revealed to the public. However, the injuries and severe complications have now resulted in more than 15 separate medical procedures or surgeries, including surgeries for two broken arms and a broken leg, removal of his spleen, procedures for fluid in his lungs and stomach, as well as for facial and skull fractures; and just this past weekend, he had a stent placed in a vein that runs through his liver because of the serious complications he continues to endure,” the family wrote.
They asked for support and prayers and thanked supporters for the prayers and best wishes they had already received.
‘Mental Problems’
Aranda’s uncle previously said his nephew suffers from “mental problems.”
Francis Aranda said that the man has a long history of violent tendencies dating back to childhood, even with his own family.
“He has a serious mental problem, he was diagnosed as a child,” Francis Aranda told KTSP. In 2014, for instance, before his nephew moved to Minnesota, he was charged with multiple crimes, including assault, after he threatened to slit a restaurant employee’s neck during a dispute in the Chicago area.
The uncle, who lives in Philadelphia, said that what happened was “gut-wrenching” and that he couldn’t believe what his nephew did. “I’m at a loss for words,” he added.
Francis Aranda said that the suspect’s mother tried to get him help for his mental issues.
“My nephew he had mental problems for a long time, for a very long time,” the uncle told WCCO. “He needed help for a really long time.”
