Rock thrown at school bus fractures 8-year-old’s skull; suspect arrested
NJSP - New Jersey State Police
NEW JERSEY - A New Jersey man has been arrested and charged in connection with a series of rock-throwing incidents on the New Jersey Turnpike, including one that seriously injured a child riding on a school bus.
What we know:
New Jersey State Police identified the suspect as Hernando Garciamorales, 40, of Palisades Park.
Authorities said Garciamorales was arrested on Saturday, Jan. 10, in connection with a Jan. 7 motor vehicle incident on the northbound New Jersey Turnpike near.
New Jersey State Police shared images of of a school bus with a shattered window on Jan. 8, saying they were investigating an aggravated assault that occurred on the New Jersey Turnpike in Teaneck Twp.
Following an investigation, state police said members of the Target Hardening Unit UAS Response Squad, with assistance from the Troop "D" Criminal Investigation Office, the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, and multiple local police departments, located Garciamorales at a self-made campsite inside Old Croaker County Park in Bergen County.
Investigators also linked Garciamorales to multiple rock-throwing incidents in Bogota Borough, police said.
NJSP - New Jersey State Police
School bus incident
One of the incidents under investigation involved a rock thrown at a school bus traveling on the New Jersey Turnpike, according to reporting by the New York Post.
The outlet reported that a rock shattered a bus window and struck an 8-year-old girl, causing a fractured skull and serious injuries. Authorities have not released additional details about the child’s condition.
State police have not publicly specified how many incidents are connected to the case.
Charges
Garciamorales has been charged with:
- Aggravated assault
- Possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose
- Endangering the welfare of a child
- Criminal mischief
- Resisting arrest by flight
- Hindering
He was lodged in the Bergen County Jail pending a detention hearing, authorities said.
What we don't know:
Police have not said whether additional charges are possible or whether more victims may be identified as the investigation continues.
Officials said no additional information is available at this time.
The Source: This article is based on information released by the New Jersey State Police and reporting from the New York Post.