New Jersey Man Arrested After Rock Injures Jewish Schoolgirl

A New Jersey man was arrested over the weekend after allegedly throwing a rock at a school bus on the New Jersey Turnpike, shattering a window and fracturing the skull of an 8-year-old Jewish girl, according to the New Jersey State Police.

Hernando Garciamorales, 40, of Palisades Park, was charged with aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose, endangering the welfare of a child, criminal mischief, resisting arrest by flight and hindering. Authorities said he has been linked to multiple rock-throwing incidents in Bergen County.

Bergen County is home to the largest population of Modern Orthodox Jews in New Jersey, with many families living in Teaneck, Paramus, Englewood and Bergenfield. The bus involved in the incident was transporting third-grade students from this community back from a routine school trip.

The attack occurred shortly after 2 p.m. Wednesday as the yellow school bus exited the New Jersey Turnpike. Investigators said the bus was traveling in the right lane when someone hurled a rock at the vehicle, shattering a side windowץ

The bus was returning to Yeshivat Noam in Paramus after a class trip to the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City. The injured child, a third-grade student from Bergenfield, was taken to Hackensack University Medical Center, where she underwent surgery for a fractured skull. Officials said she was stable and recovering, and all other students and staff returned safely to the school.

“The safety and well-being of our students is our highest priority,” said Rabbi Chaim Hagler, head of school at Yeshivat Noam. “Our focus remains on supporting the injured student and her family, as well as ensuring the emotional health of our entire student body. We are working closely with law enforcement to ensure a thorough investigation.”

State police said Garciamorales was located and arrested at a self-made campsite in Old Croaker County Park in Bergen County. Investigators also linked him to several other rock-throwing incidents in the Bogota section of the county. Prior to the arrest, Teaneck Mayor Mark J. Schwartz and Deputy Mayor Elie Katz had offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to a suspect, funded personally and not with taxpayer money.

Officials have cautioned against drawing conclusions about the motive behind the attack. The bus had no visible markings identifying it as a Jewish school bus, police and school officials said.

“There’s no indication it’s a bias crime,” Schwartz said. “We don’t want to rush to make accusations of antisemitism or racism. But because of the times we’re in and the fact that was a Yeshiva bus with visibly Jewish kids, we’re treading carefully.” He added that the injured student had surgery and “is recovering.”

Jewish organizations nonetheless voiced alarm. The World Jewish Congress said it was “horrified” by the attack. Phil Rosen, chair of the WJC American Section, said: “Throwing stones at vehicles is not harmless mischief. It is a violent act that can maim or kill — a tactic we have seen used for years on the roads of Israel to terrorize civilians. The danger is real, and the consequences are often devastating. Too often, this kind of violence is minimized or excused. It should not be. When an object is hurled at a bus full of children, the intent is to cause fear and injury. That is terror, and it must be condemned clearly and without qualification.”

Rep. Josh Gottheimer said he was in close contact with local prosecutors as the investigation continues. “I’m praying for the student and her family, and hope she makes a full recovery from this terrifying incident,” he said.

Garciamorales is being held at the Bergen County Jail pending a detention hearing. Authorities said the investigation remains ongoing.