UPDATE: An 8-year-old girl is hospitalized with a fractured skull after a shocking incident on a school bus in Teaneck, New Jersey. Police have arrested Hernando Garcia Morales, 40, who allegedly threw a rock the size of a baseball into the bus just after 2 p.m. on October 18, 2023.
The girl, a third-grader from Yeshivat Noam, was returning from a field trip to the Liberty Science Center when the rock struck her head, shattering the glass. While she underwent surgery, authorities confirmed she is expected to recover.
This alarming incident occurred in the northbound lanes of the New Jersey Turnpike, near the Teaneck Road exit. The bus was not marked as a Jewish school vehicle, which raises questions about the motive behind the attack. Police are actively investigating and have linked Garcia Morales to similar rock-throwing incidents in nearby Bogota Borough.
Garcia Morales has been charged with multiple offenses, including aggravated assault, and was apprehended at a campsite in Old Croaker County Park in Bergen County. The police report states he also resisted arrest during the operation.
The Jewish Federation has issued a statement, expressing concern and commitment to monitoring the situation closely. Fortunately, no other students were injured in the incident, but it has stirred fear and anger within the community.
As the investigation unfolds, authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward. The community remains on edge, reminding everyone of the urgent need for safety, especially for children traveling to and from school.
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.
