An 18-year-old Santa Monica High School student will be arraigned today at the LAX branch courthouse on a handful of charges relating to his suspected involvement in a physical altercation with a teacher inside a classroom on Friday.
The student, identified Tuesday by the Santa Monica Police Department as Blair Rodrick Moore, is charged on suspicion of threatening a school official, battery against a school employee, being in possession of a weapon (box cutter), and in possession of marijuana.
A second student, aged 16, who was also arrested in relation to the incident is charged with battery against a school employee. Police have not identified this male student as he is a minor.
SMPD Sgt. Jay Moroso said the 16 year old’s court date will not be until 60 days after his arrest date.
Moroso said there has been no specific date at this time.
On Friday, Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District superintendent Sandra Lyon wrote to parents via email at 3:30 pm saying that a teacher had been placed on leave after a physical altercation with a student inside a classroom earlier in the day.
That teacher has since been identified as Mark Black, a long-time science teacher and wrestling coach at the school.
Meanwhile, an online petition to reinstate Black has gained more than 6,000 supporters.