Mall Of America Sued After Boy, 5, Thrown Off Balcony In 2019

BLOOMINGTON, MN — The family of the then-5-year-old boy who was thrown off of the third floor at the Mall of America is suing the mall in a personal injury case. The suit was filed Thursday, according to online court records.

The family is seeking monetary damages from the Mall of America, KSTP reports. They retained Mark Briol, a Twin Cities-based personal injury lawyer, for the case.

The family has racked up $1.7 million in related medical expenses, according to Briol.

Emmanuel D. Aranda, 26, is currently serving a 228-month prison sentence after he was convicted of attempted premeditated first-degree murder.

Aranda is set to be released at the end of 2031.

On April 19, 2019, the boy and his mother were outside the Rain Forest Café on the mall's third floor. The mother saw Aranda, whom she had never seen before, come close to them and she asked if they should move.

Instead, Aranda picked up the boy and threw him over the railing, police said. He then ran but another witness tried to stop him.

Aranda pushed the witness against a wall and kept running until police were able to arrest him on the light-rail train outside the mall.

The boy suffered serious injuries but survived and eventually regained the ability to walk.

Also read: Accused Mall Attacker Blames Women Who Rejected Him: Police