The recent incident involving a man throwing a rock at a school bus from a New Jersey Turnpike overpass has shocked the community. The man behind this heinous act is identified as Hernando Garcia-Morales, a 40-year-old illegal immigrant from Mexico with a troubling criminal history.
On January 7, Garcia-Morales allegedly targeted a school bus returning from a field trip to the Liberty Science Center, causing a serious injury to an 8-year-old girl on board. When apprehended two days later at a homeless encampment in Palisades Park, NJ, he claimed he believed the bus was the devil or his enemy.
Federal officials revealed that Garcia-Morales should not have been in the USA in the first place. The Department of Homeland Security disclosed that his criminal record in New Jersey dates back two decades, including arrests for possession of a weapon and theft in 2006. In 2023, he was arrested for burglary and giving false information but was not charged due to the state’s sanctuary policies.
Despite being a suspect in other rock-throwing incidents and accusations of peeping into homes, Garcia-Morales escaped deportation due to New Jersey’s sanctuary immigration policies. The Department of Justice is currently suing four cities in the state for obstructing federal immigration authorities.
The young victim of the school bus incident suffered a deep laceration on her forehead and a fractured orbital bone, requiring surgery to correct the damage. She is now recovering at home in Bergenfield, relieved that her attacker has been apprehended.
Garcia-Morales faces charges of aggravated assault, resisting arrest, possession of a weapon, criminal trespassing, and criminal mischief in connection with the rock attack. His lawyer claims he suffers from mental illness, and he has yet to enter a formal plea.
During his court appearance, Judge Marc Ramundo emphasized the randomness and danger posed by Garcia-Morales’ actions, leading to the decision to keep him in Bergen County jail until the case is resolved.
The community remains shocked and outraged by this senseless act of violence, with authorities working to ensure justice is served for the young victim and her family.
