FFA member critically injured after 2-story fall at Circle Centre Mall

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - An FFA member in town for the national convention has been critically injured.

Phillip Caler, 16, suffered severe injuries when he fell from a third floor balcony to the first floor inside Circle Centre Mall. Police said Caler is from Booker, Texas.

"He was sitting on a railing at the third level,” said Sgt. Paul Thompson of IMPD. “At some point in time, he lost his balance, fell, struck the second level barricade and fell all the way to the ground. As far as we know at this time, it's just an accident there was no foul play involved as far as we know."

Andrew Yagle was just outside the Carson Pirie Scott store.

"The people right there by it, heard it and knew what was going on. But a lot of people in the mall didn't know what was going on. And I went around and started trying to find people from Texas because that's where he was from," said Yagle.

A WISH-TV employee inside at the time said several young people were playing around near the balcony when the accident happened.

A statement from the FFA said Caler’s family is with him at Methodist Hospital. The organization said they have been told that the next 72 hours will be critical in determining Caler's prognosis.

The FFA statement said Caler's family is profoundly grateful for the outpouring of thoughts and prayers from FFA members, the city of Indianapolis and supporters all across the country.