Brooklyn Park Church Keeps MOA Child Attack Victim in Prayers

The boy who was tossed from the third floor of the Mall of America last Friday attended church with his family at Brooklyn Park’s Living Word Christian Center. The congregation is praying for the family and says the family is grateful for the prayers and support.

24-year-old Emmanuel Aranda is charged with premeditated first-degree murder for throwing a young boy nearly 40 feet to the ground over the third-floor railing.

According to charging documents, Aranda went to the Mall of America last Friday “intending to kill.”  The victim, 5-year-old Landen Hoffman, is in critical condition. He has many broken bones and a brain injury, according to the family’s attorney. The boy’s family are long-time members of Living Word Church in Brooklyn Park. Staff members are counseling the family.

“Considering the horrific nature of this incident, [They are doing] really well. They’re strong, standing in faith,” said Associate Pastor Brian Sullivan.

A GofundMe account to help pay for medical expenses has grown to more than 700 thousand dollars. The church says the family is grateful for all of the prayers, love, and support.  

“We’re continuing to just hold him up in prayer. We’re believing for a miracle, it’s Holy Week, right? What a great season for a miracle, right? We’re believing and standing with the family for God’s intervention and complete healing in Landen’s life,” said Sullivan.

Church officials say the family wants to maintain its privacy while it goes through this horrific ordeal.

Brooklyn Park