A New Jersey man, Hernando Garciamorales, was arrested Friday for allegedly throwing a rock at a school bus on Jan. 7, striking an 8-year-old girl and fracturing her skull, authorities said.
The incident occurred on the northbound lanes of the New Jersey Turnpike near the Teaneck Road exit, as a bus carrying students from Yeshivat Noam in Paramus returned from a field trip to the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City.
State police reported that Garciamorales was found at a self-made campsite in Old Croaker County Park in Bergen County, where investigators believe he had been living, according to ABC 11.
Officials said he admitted to throwing the rock and has been linked to multiple prior rock-throwing incidents in Bogota Borough, Bergen County, including attacks on individuals and property.
The young girl was transported to Hackensack University Medical Center, where she remained alert and stable. She later underwent surgery to ensure proper healing from the skull fracture, school officials said.
Yeshivat Noam noted that the bus bore no markings identifying it as a Jewish school bus, leaving the motive under investigation.
Garciamorales faces multiple charges, including aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, endangering the welfare of a child, criminal mischief, resisting arrest by flight and hindering.
Bergen County authorities confirmed that he is ineligible for release under New Jersey’s bail reform law and is being held at Bergen County Jail pending a detention hearing, NorthJersey.com reports.
Court records reveal a history of violent conduct by Garciamorales. Last summer, he faced an aggravated assault case in Bogota that kept him jailed for two months.
After his release in September, he was charged twice more in October for allegedly assaulting law enforcement officers. Additional allegations include criminal mischief, trespassing and violations of privacy in the Bogota area.
State and local law enforcement coordinated on the investigation, including the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office, Bergen County Sheriff’s Office and police departments in Teaneck and Bogota.
Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) said he remained in close contact with prosecutors and expressed his prayers for the girl’s recovery, according to JNS.
The Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey issued a statement confirming awareness of the incident and noting that authorities do not currently believe it was a bias-motivated crime.
Teaneck officials, including Mayor Mark Schwartz and Councilman Elie Katz, had previously offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.
Garciamorales reportedly used a large stick during his attacks and confessed to eight separate incidents, six involving rock-throwing and two involving trespassing and privacy violations.
Police said the repeated pattern of aggressive conduct made the investigation a priority for local authorities.
According to the X account Illegal Alien Crimes, Garciamorales is allegedly an illegal alien from Mexico on a detainer; however, Resist the Mainstream was unable to independently confirm this information.
Officials emphasized that while the girl is expected to recover from her injuries, the case underscores ongoing concerns about public safety and repeat offenders in Bergen County.
Law enforcement continues to review Garciamorales’ activities and is preparing for further court proceedings to ensure accountability.
