THIS is the five-year-old boy left fighting for his life after being hurled from a third-floor balcony in a shopping centre by a stranger.

Landen Hoffmann was left in a pool of blood after plunging to the marble ground in front of horrified witnesses at Mall of America in Minnesota.

5 Landen Hoffmann was shoved from a balcony at Mall of America Credit: Instagram

His frantic mum screamed: "Oh my God, my baby - someone threw him over the edge" after the horror unfolded on Friday.

Well-wishers have now donated more than £252,000 to his distraught family on a GoFundMe page describing the youngster as "the sweetest kindest five-year-old you will ever meet".

A heartbreaking statement continues: "His soul is soft and gentle and instantly brings a smile to everybody he meets.

"He is full of energy and life and enjoys soccer, playing with friends and family and playing hockey with his brother and sister.

'A MONSTER DID THIS'

"Landen has a very long road to recovery ahead of him. He suffered life threatening injuries, many people who fall from that distance aren’t as lucky to make it."

Landen's cousin April Hoffman has also posted a tribute to the young boy on her Instagram page.

She said: "Please pray for my cousin's beautiful son Landen.

"A monster of a man threw him from a 3rd floor balcony at the mall, he is fighting to stay with us every second."

Emmanuel Deshawn Aranda, 24, was last night charged with attempted murder after being chased down by cops following the harrowing incident.

He is not known to Landen - who remains in a critical condition in hospital - or his horrified mum.

MUM'S PANIC

Horrified witnesses told how Landen's mum was screaming as the little boy was hurled over the balcony ledge.

Brian Johnson told WCCO: “She was screaming: ‘Everyone pray, everyone pray. Oh my God, my baby, someone threw him over the edge.'"

Tina Hailey said she was walking past the Macy’s on the first floor when she saw the mum wailing.

She told the Star Tribune: “I won’t forget it. It was horrific. I hope he survived.”

Traumatised witnesses reported seeing the little boy “lying motionless in a pool of blood” as medics frantically performed CPR.

'SENSELESS ACT'

Detectives are looking at CCTV from inside the mall. Court records show Aranda was charged in two previous incidents at the mall.

The Mall of America issued a statement on Friday, saying: "This was a senseless act and words cannot truly express our profound shock and sadness.

"Our immediate and only concern is for the well-being of the family and the child, as well as for any individuals who may have witnessed the incident.

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"We have counselling services available for anyone who may need assistance.

"We know that this is a concerning event for all of us.

"As the Bloomington Police Department continues to investigate how and why this isolated incident happened, we will provide our full cooperation."

5 Emmanuel Deshawn Aranda, 24, was chased down by cops in Bloomington, Minnesota, after a boy was allegedly thrown from a third floor balcony Credit: AP:Associated Press

5 A boy was seriously injured after a 'stranger' allegedly threw him from the third floor of a shopping centre Credit: WCCO

5 Stunned witnesses told how the boy's bother screamed in terror as her boy plunged to the floor Credit: CBS

5 Detectives at the scene where a boy was allegedly thrown from a balcony Credit: CBS