Child injured at Mall of America 'continuing to fight his courageous battle'

A 5-year-old boy injured when he reportedly was thrown over a third-floor railing and fell 40 feet Friday at Mall of America continued to be treated in a Twin Cities hospital on Sunday.

Meanwhile, formal charges may be filed against the suspect on Monday.

In an update posted to an online fundraising page for the family on Sunday afternoon, a family friend reported that the boy — whose first name is Landen — "had a peaceful sleep and is still continuing to fight his courageous battle; he's a strong survivor!"

The online effort had raised more than $550,000 as of Monday morning.

"We are all completely overwhelmed with the love and support that has come our way during this tragic time," Sunday's update read.

Authorities have not yet identified the boy or provided an update on his condition, citing the family's request for privacy. Police did say that the victim and his family are from the Twin Cities area.

Bloomington Police Chief Jeff Potts said at a midday Saturday news conference that the 24-year-old male suspect has been cooperative with investigators and remains in custody at the Hennepin County Jail. He faces a potential charge of attempted murder.

Potts said he expects to turn the case over to the Hennepin County Attorney's Office on Monday for a decision on formal charges. MPR News typically does not publish the names of suspects until prosecutors have charged them.

"We do not believe that the suspect knew the family or the victim. (From) our investigative work and witnesses that we've spoken to — we feel confident saying the suspect threw the child off the third floor," Potts said Saturday. "But as to why he did that — it's still something we're looking into and trying to figure out."

Court records show the suspect was charged following two previous run-ins with police and security officers at the megamall.

In one case, he pleaded guilty to a gross misdemeanor charge of interfering with a peace officer in connection with a July 4, 2015, incident where he was seen throwing objects from the upper level off the mall.

Potts said Bloomington police had not had any contact with the suspect since 2015, until Friday's incident.

Court documents also show that the mall assault suspect was convicted of property damage for smashing five computers at Sumner Library in Minneapolis in August of 2015, causing about $5,000 in damage.

Court records show the man was again charged with misdemeanor assault in 2017 and failed to appear at a hearing. He had an outstanding warrant for his arrest at the time he allegedly assaulted the boy at the Mall of America.