5-year-old boy who was thrown from Mall of America's third-floor balcony showing 'real signs of recovery'
A family friend has given an update that the five-year-old boy who was allegedly thrown from the third-floor balcony of the Mall of America is showing signs of recovery after sustaining life-threatening injuries from his fall.
While the boy remains in intensive care after enduring massive head trauma and multiple broken bones in his arms and legs, his latest test results have been positive, according to a GoFundMe page set up to support the family, People reported.
"We have good news to share with you all on this Good Friday! Our miracle child Landen is showing real signs of recovery. New test results have been positive, though he remains in intensive care with a long road ahead," family friend Noah Hanneman wrote on the page.
"Our faith in God, and our Savior Jesus, is strong and we are gaining more reason for optimism day by day. We continue our request for privacy as we focus on Landen, and thank you for respecting our wishes. Just know that we all feel your overwhelming love, prayers, and support. He is answering our prayers and they ARE working," he added.
However, Hanneman did not specify exactly what types of tests had yielded the promising results.
According to police, Landen was standing with his mother outside the third floor Rainforest Cafe on April 12 when he was thrown an estimated 40 feet over the railing to the Minnesota mall's first floor.
The 24-year-old suspect, Emmanuel Deshawn Aranda, was arrested for attempted premeditated first-degree murder, a charge which carries with it a maximum sentence of 20 years to life imprisonment.
According to a criminal complaint obtained by the newspaper, authorities said last week that Aranda was frustrated after being rejected by multiple women he had tried to speak to and was therefore intentionally "looking for someone to kill" at the mall.
The criminal complaint stated that Aranda first considered killing an adult at the mall on Thursday "because they usually stand near the balcony". However, that did not "work out" somehow, he told the police.
The fundraising page set up by Hanneman has so far raised over $963,000 to cover the boy's "immense" medical and rehabilitation expenses.
"The power of prayer is simply amazing," Hanneman wrote in an update last week. "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."
According to the page, Landon's condition is "similar to previous days", but the family is considering "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," Hanneman added.