Maryland high school student punches, stomps, spits on school security officer
MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Md. February 19, 2022– Hours after telling an assistant principal that he was planning to harm someone, a Maryland high school student beat a school security guard to the point where the guard blacked out, Montgomery County Police wrote in court documents obtained by WJLA.
On Thursday, Feb. 3, the 61-year-old male security guard was walking down a first-floor hallway at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School when he came across student Jacob Moore, 18, skipping class. It was around 1:07 p.m.
“Your mom does not send you to school so you can sit in the hall all day,” the security guard told Moore.
Moore — who police describe as being “taller and built bigger” than the security guard — reportedly stood up and got in the guard’s face. Sensing danger, the guard began to back up. While doing so, Moore punched the guard in the face several times, causing the guard to fall to the floor, police say.
“Moore then got on top of (the security guard) and with both his right and left closed fists, continued to strike (the security guard) in the face and head,” police wrote in court documents. “Moore then stood over (the security guard) and spat on him. Moore, using his feet, stomped on (the security guard’s) head and then proceeded to kick him several times in the head. (The security guard) stated that during the attack, he had blacked out for a moment in time.”
Using his portable radio, the guard managed to request immediate backup. As he was getting pummeled, the guard recalled a female student shouting, “Stop! Stop!”
BCC’s security team leader escorted Moore to Assistant Principal Rebecca Sutton’s office.
Only hours earlier, Moore had allegedly told Sutton, “I’m going to hurt someone.” The 18-year-old student didn’t withhold personal thoughts during his second visit to Sutton’s office.
“Moore stated that he hit (the security guard) because he had asked him to go to class,” police further noted in court documents. “Moore also stated he wanted to kill (the security guard) as he was striking him.”
On Wednesday, Feb. 9, the BCC community engagement officer brought a subpoena to Montgomery County Public Schools’ Office of the General Counsel in Rockville. In turn, the school system provided the officer with a flash drive containing security footage of Moore attacking the security guard.
According to police, the security video corroborates the guard’s version of events. It starts by showing the 61-year-old approaching Moore, who was sitting on a bench in the hallway.
“(The security guard) falls to the ground … Moore then follows him, gets on top of (the security guard), and begins to strike him several times with both hands. Moore then gets up, and with his right foot, stomped on (the security guard’s) head. Moore then picks up his backpack and walks away.”
MCPS’ Office of the General Counsel also provided police with eyewitness statements from two BCC students. One student said she tried her best to separate Moore from the guard. The second student said she watched as Moore kicked the guard in the head and spit in his face.
The security guard stated his right rib cage and right knee were tender from falling to the hard floor and being repeatedly kicked. He was also unable to chew food due to being punched in the jaw. He further reported “feeling dazed” and experiencing “ringing in his ears.” Police noted the security guard had swelling around his face and ears, plus a small laceration on the bridge of his nose. As of late last week, those injuries were preventing the guard from reporting to work at BCC.
In an email, BCC Assistant Principal Douglas Nelson notified the school community about the assault, calling it a “serious incident” and that the student’s actions were “completely unacceptable and will not be tolerated.”
“The staff member who was involved sustained minor injuries, was examined by the health room staff, and as a precaution, is seeking medical attention,” Nelson wrote, in part. “We have taken a number of specific actions to ensure the staff member is supported.”
Montgomery County Police charged Moore on Thursday, Feb. 10, seven days after the violent incident. It was not immediately clear why authorities waited one week to press criminal charges despite surveillance video and eyewitness accounts of the alleged midday beating. Records show authorities arrested Moore on Monday, Feb. 14.
On Tuesday, Feb. 15, Montgomery County District Court Judge Victor Del Pino ordered Moore be held without bond while awaiting trial in the felony case, which include counts of first-degree assault, reckless endangerment and disturbing school operations.
According to court documents, Moore had most recently been living with his mother in a $1.1 million home in Bethesda. A phone number listed in court documents for the 18-year-old high schooler went straight to voicemail. Court records also list a previous address for Moore in Mapleton, Utah, around 55 miles southeast of Salt Lake City.
Moore faces up to 40 years in prison and up to $10,000 in fines. His next court appearance is scheduled for March 4 at 8:30 a.m.
