Emmanuel Aranda, the man who threw a 5-year-old boy off a Mall of America balcony on April 12, pleaded guilty Tuesday to first-degree attempted murder.
The 24-year-old man who was “looking for someone to kill” last month will be sentenced to 19 years in prison as part of a plea deal. Prosecutors were seeking an aggravated sentence for Aranda, given that his victim was a “particularly vulnerable” target.
The child fell nearly 40 feet during the attempted murder, although he miraculously survived the fall and is recovering in Children’s Hospital in Minneapolis.
The boy’s family thanks Jesus Christ for saving him.
“All praise and glory and honor to Jesus,” said Stephen Tillitt, the family representative, a Fox News affiliate reported Tuesday. “He saved our son’s life and is healing him in the most miraculous ways. We are now turning our focus to additional surgeries, healing, rehabilitation and eventually a return home, which we hope will happen by June. We want to thank each and every one of you for your love, prayers, and support.”
The official sentencing for Aranda will take place on June 3.
• Douglas Ernst can be reached at dernst@washingtontimes.com.
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