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'Holiday wishes come true': Brayden Medina, 9, stabbed by homeless man at Target heads home after recovery

On November 15, a homeless man stabbed Brayden Medina in the back with a butcher knife that was displayed for sale at Target's kitchen area

Warning: This content contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers' discretion is advised.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Brayden Medina, a 9-year-old boy who was stabbed in his back by a homeless man on November 15 at a Target store in Los Angeles, was able to walk home to celebrate the holidays. The man stabbed him with a butcher knife from the store’s kitchen section.

The attacker, who has not been identified yet was shot dead after he stabbed a 25-year-old woman who came to save the 9-year-old, reported New York Post. LAPD Captain E Morales tweeted, "Holiday Wishes come true. Today Central Area granted the wish for B. Medina who was the victim of a brutal crime over 1 month ago at Target (7th/Figueroa). He was able to walk on his own and be home for the Holidays with his famil @LAPDChiefMoore @lapdmikeoreb." 

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Earlier, his cousin, Lizette Molina, stated, "It was more difficult when I found out that he was stabbed with the intention of being killed. That really broke my heart." Further, she added, "He's just very brave and I feel like that's what's helping him, and all of us, go through this. We see in LA it has definitely increased — the amount of homeless we have," she said. "And the mental health problems we have... that is something that needs to be addressed and I hope that now, due to this happening, it gets more addressed," she further added. Meanwhile, his brother, Jesse Medina, said, "It really made us feel horrible, It made me feel like this world is really bad. What happened to my little brother, it should never happen to a kid," reported CBS. 

Molina also organized a fundraiser through GoFundMe. The campaign note stated, "The immense pain I felt was unlike any other when I found out that my little cousin who is like my little brother was stabbed with the intention of being killed, I felt stabbed in my heart. My little cousin Brayden Medina was a victim of the tragic event on Tuesday evening November 15, 2022, at Target in Downtown LA. He was stabbed in the back and suffered a deep wound on the back of his shoulder. He is a 9-year-old boy who was brave enough to try to flee but unfortunately did not escape his attacker’s stab."

It further said, "The details of the incident are not known, but unfortunately, Brayden suffered the violence of the attacker by being on his path. He was stabbed in his back shoulder two times and it's been said that the 25-year-old woman who was stabbed in the chest intervened to save my cousin's life. God bless her soul, my prayers go out to her and my heart to her family." 

It also stated, "Thank god he is in a stable condition, he is a strong child, we know he will get through this. We are just praying that it would not intervene with his ability to everyday life due to the deep laceration in his shoulder. He is now going through physical therapy to fully recover, though he is having complications in his legs. We are asking for support from your kind heart to help us pay for the expenses that will come along with this injury. We will be using the money to help his family alleviate this nightmare come true. I will be more than glad to let you all know how your donations are contributing to his recovery. The Medina Molina family greatly appreciates your help, thank you all for your support- anything we help! Even by sharing this with others, it will make a difference! From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you all for your support. God bless you all."