BROOKLYN PARK, Minn. -- A post office box has been set up for those who would like to send well wishes to a 5-year-old boy who was thrown from a third-floor balcony at the Mall of America on Friday, April 12 -- and critically wounded.
The following update was posted Wednesday, April 17 on a GoFundMe.com page set up to raise money for the boy's medical expenses:
More than $800,000 had been raised as of Wednesday evening.
Emmanuel Aranda, 24, of Minneapolis, accused of throwing the boy from the balcony said little Tuesday, April 16 during his first court appearance, but appeared lucid and followed the court's directions.
Aranda is charged with attempted premeditated first-degree murder. The child plunged almost 40 feet and is fighting for his life in a Minneapolis hospital with head trauma and multiple broken bones.
Police said Aranda told them he went to the mall "looking for someone to kill" and chose the boy at random.
Aranda appeared behind a glass partition Tuesday in a courtroom at the Hennepin County jail. He spelled his name and gave his birthdate and address, noting that he had been at a shelter. When asked by the judge whether he had any questions, he said, "Not at all."
Aranda's bail was kept at $2 million and an omnibus hearing was set for May 14.
Aranda has two past convictions for assaults at the mall, both in 2015, and was banned from the mall at one point. Court records show that Aranda had been ordered to undergo psychological evaluation or treatment after those assaults.
Paul Sellers, the public defender appointed to represent Aranda, said his client has been in mental health court before. He urged the Legislature and those who are calling for aggressive retribution to focus on mental health issues.
"You wonder whether things could be prevented if we spent more on mental health treatment on the front end and mental health options on the front end, instead of always just waiting for bad things to happen and seeking retributive justice," Sellers said after Tuesday's hearing.
Sellers said he's not at liberty to talk about specifics of the case, but noted that he hasn't requested evaluations of his client's mental competence. He said once he gets the state's evidence, he'll work toward the best outcome.
Stephen Tillitt, an attorney representing the victim's family, told reporters the child remains in critical condition. He wasn't authorized to provide specifics but said the boy is beginning a long journey to recovery.
"I've heard it said that every new day is a good day, and, so this is a good day," Tillitt said.