Protective Order Issued To Shield North Penn Middle School Attacker

LANSDALE, PA — In the first court proceeding following the brutal assault on a North Penn middle schooler last week, a Montgomery County judge issued a protective order to shield the suspect's identity from the public.

The ruling came following a detention hearing in the juvenile division of the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas Monday afternoon.

See related: 3rd Party Investigation Underway, Added Police Presence At North Penn

"No party, individual or entity may publish identifying information...the birth name, chosen name if applicable, family members' names, date of birth, residential address or any other information that may reasonably lead to the identification of the Juvenile and/or the Juvenile's family," the order reads. "This protective Order is entered to safeguard the protection of the Juvenile including, without limitation, the Juvenile's emotional, physical and mental well-being, safety and privacy."

Montgomery County Judge Henry S. Hilles III, who is in charge of the case, handed down the order.

It's unclear exactly what charges will be laid out against the attacker, and the next court date has not yet been announced.

The incident occurred at around 1:20 p.m. Tuesday during the seventh grade lunch at Pennbrook Middle School.

Police and school officials said the victim, a girl, was walking when the attacking student ran up to her and began beating her repeatedly on the back of the head with the metal cup.

The victim was treated by emergency personnel at the scene and then taken to the hospital.

Students later said they had warned the district that the attack was coming, and parents are furious the district didn't do enough to stop the assault.