Photo: Inside Edition
We all do it. We go out with our kids — to the mall, the park, the zoo. We hold their little hands while juggling juice boxes, mentally running through dinner plans and “do we have clean socks for tomorrow?”
But then a story like this slams into your scroll feed and stops you cold.
Because five-year-old Landen Hoffmann was just out with his mum. On a normal day. In a familiar place. And within seconds — he was thrown off a balcony by a stranger.
Yeah. Thrown.
This isn’t some far-off, crime doc on Netflix. It happened in a place many of us have been — Mall of America. But what happened after that fall? It’ll break your heart… and then stitch it back together.
Because this isn’t just a story of trauma — it’s a story of survival, strength, and the kind of comeback you’d never believe unless you saw it.
The Day Everything Changed
On April 12, 2019, Kari Hoffmann was out shopping at the Mall of America with her son Landen. They were just passing the Rainforest Café when a man they didn’t know — 24-year-old Emmanuel Aranda — approached them.
Without saying a word, Aranda grabbed Landen and hurled him over the balcony. No provocation. No warning. Just pure horror.
The boy plummeted nearly 40 feet to the floor below.
Witnesses screamed. Security rushed in. And Aranda? He tried to make a run for it. But thankfully, he was quickly caught by police.
Why Did He Do It?
Turns out, Aranda had a long history of troubling behavior — and he’d been banned from the mall before for exactly that. But somehow, he got back in.
When questioned, Aranda said he was angry about being rejected by women and wanted to kill someone — anyone. He told police he had come to the mall that day planning to murder. And Landen… he was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The Charges and Sentence
Aranda was charged with attempted first-degree murder. He pleaded guilty and, in June 2019, was sentenced to 19 years in prison. No insanity plea. No delays. Just straight to prison, where he’s currently serving time.
Landen’s Injuries Were Devastating
Landen wasn’t expected to survive. He suffered a massive brain trauma, broken arms, broken legs, internal bleeding, and countless other injuries.
But if you’re the kind of person who believes in miracles — this story is about to slap you in the feels.
Landen didn’t just wake up. He fought back. He went through multiple surgeries, months of therapy, and four and a half months in the hospital. And then — like a total legend — he walked into kindergarten that same year.
Yeah, walked.
A Comeback Story That’s Impossible to Believe
Today, Landen is thriving. He plays hockey. He runs. He laughs. He’s in school with his mates. His mom says he’s happy, active, and full of life.
Kari Hoffmann — who lived through every second of this nightmare — has now written a book about the entire ordeal. It’s called “Still Breathing: The Wisdom and Wit of a Grieving Mother.” In it, she talks about trauma, resilience, and the power of faith and community.
And no — it’s not just a sad sob story. It’s a book about the raw, gritty strength it takes to survive the unimaginable. She says her faith played a huge role in helping her heal — and she wants other parents going through trauma to know they’re not alone.
You can check out her book here on Amazon (not an ad — just amazing to see how far they’ve come).
They Sued the Mall — And Won
In 2021, the family filed a lawsuit against the Mall of America, claiming the mall was negligent. After all, Aranda had been banned multiple times before. Why was he even able to walk around freely that day?
In December 2022, the mall settled the lawsuit confidentially. Both sides agreed to implement safety changes, and while the details weren’t made public, the Hoffmanns called it a step in the right direction.
A Moment for Every Parent
This story hits hard — not just because of what happened, but because of what could happen. It’s the kind of thing that makes you grip your kid’s hand tighter at the shopping centre, do a double take at strangers, or feel that rush of gratitude when everyone gets back in the car safe.
As a parent myself, I remember one time when my daughter darted away in a busy crowd at the zoo. It was maybe five seconds — but it felt like my heart had been ripped out and thrown into traffic. I screamed her name, scanned every face, and just as panic was about to swallow me whole, I saw her crouched behind a bench looking at a dropped ice cream. Totally fine. Oblivious. I wanted to cry and yell and laugh all at once. And in that moment, I realised how fragile our sense of “normal” is.
Landen’s story reminds us: it’s not about living in fear. It’s about being aware, being present, and never assuming that tragedy only knocks on someone else’s door.
So What Can We Learn?
Don’t tune out in public spaces — especially busy ones like malls or amusement parks.
Teach your kids what to do if they get separated from you (like finding a staff member or yelling for help).
And always — always — trust your gut. If someone feels “off,” you don’t need a reason to move away.
But more than anything, hug your kids tighter. Laugh with them more. And when they ask for one more push on the swing or one more bedtime story — give it to them. Because in a world where one second can change everything, every second matters.
Landen’s fall could’ve been the end of his story. But thanks to love, faith, and what can only be described as a miracle — it became just the beginning.
And that’s something the world needs to hear more of.
