Man Accused Of Throwing 5-Year-Old Boy Over Mall Of America’s Third-Floor Balcony Pleads Guilty

The man accused of throwing a 5-year-old boy off the third-floor balcony at Mall of America in April pleaded guilty for attempted murder Tuesday.

Emmanuel Aranda, 24, faces 19 years behind bars, Fox News reported Tuesday. Prosecutors agreed not to pursue an aggravated circumstances component to the charge in exchange for the plea. This could mean Aranda skirts an extra year of prison.

Aranda reportedly told investigators he was “looking for somebody to kill” on April 12 when he randomly chose and threw the boy nearly 40 feet to the ground. He allegedly wanted to kill another person earlier, but it did not “work out,” according to The Associated Press.

“He went into the courtroom and accepted full responsibility,” Aranda’s attorney Paul Sellers said, the AP reported.

The fall left the boy with head trauma and broken bones.

“Our miracle child is showing real signs of recovery,” attorney Stephen Tillitt said in April, CBS News reported. “New test results have been positive, though he remains in intensive care with a long road ahead.”

The boy’s family supported the plea agreement, Fox reported. Sentencing is scheduled for June 3.