Police have identified a man suspected of throwing a child from the third floor of a shopping centre in front of his screaming mum.
Emmanuel Deshawn Aranda, 24, is being held at the Bloomington Police Department charged with one count of attempted homicide, according to police.
The boy, five, has been left seriously ill in hospital following the incident at Mall of America in Minnesota, on Friday afternoon.
Witnesses said a man approached the woman and her son, picked him up and tossed him over the edge at one of the USs biggest shopping complexes.
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Brian Johnson told WCCO: She was screaming “Everyone pray, everyone pray. Oh my god, my baby, someone threw him over the edge”.
She was screaming like a banshee, like theres no tomorrow. I just dont know. Everyone was in shock.
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Police chief Jeff Potts said it does not appear Aranda had any relationship with the boy or his family.
One witness told the New York Daily News that the child was laying motionless…in a pool of blood, as emergency responders were seen performing CPR on the boy.
He has been rushed to the Childrens Minnesota hospital in Minneapolis with his mother.
A Bloomington Police spokesperson said the child suffered significant injuries.
The Mall of America said in a statement: Earlier today, Mall of America security was notified of an incident involving a child falling from one of the upper floors.
Mall Security responded immediately as well as the Bloomington Police Department. Emergency Services were notified and responded as well.
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