Mall Of America Attacker Gets 19 Years In Jail For Tossing Boy Over Railing

The man who threw a five-year-old boy over a railing on the third floor of the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota was sentenced to 19 years in jail. Emmanuel Deshawn Aranda pleaded guilty to first-degree attempted murder in connection with the attack that left the young boy clinging to life.

"Your act was evil and selfish. You chose to listen to the worst parts of yourself that day," the boy's father wrote in a statement that was read to the court. "That is where your impact on us stops. You will take nothing more from us."

The young boy suffered severe head trauma and numerous broken bones after falling 40 feet and landing on a light rail train below. His family released an update on his condition on May 24th and said that he is suffering from "non-life threatening complications from his injuries which have required additional procedures to correct."

"He is recovering, and his spirit is strong — but there is still a long road ahead," the boy's family said in a statement.

Aranda will be eligible for parole in 12 years.

Photo: Bloomington Police Department