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Northridge student killed on I-75 suspected of assaulting girlfriend

Brandon Moore, a 17-year-old Northridge High School student, who was killed walking on Interstate 75 on Saturday, Aug. 29.

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Northridge High School students finish repairing a sign made for their friend, Brandon Moore, a 17-year-old Northridge High School student who was killed walking on Interstate 75 on Saturday, Aug. 29. Staff photo by Teesha McClam

Staff photo by Teesha McClam Northridge High School students finish repairing a sign made for their friend, Brandon Moore, a 17-year-old Northridge High School student who was killed walking on Interstate 75 on Saturday, Aug. 29. Staff photo by Teesha McClam

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By Jill Kelley and Tom Beyerlein
Staff Writers Updated 2:31 PM Monday, August 31, 2009

HARRISON TWP., Montgomery County — Northridge High School counselors will be available today, Aug. 31, to help students deal with the shock over news that a popular football player allegedly assaulted his former girlfriend before being struck and killed by a car on Interstate 75 early Saturday.

“Obviously, anytime a young person dies in a situation like this it’s just very tragic,” said Northridge Superintendent Tod Perez.

Brandon Moore, a junior at the school and a member of the football team, was a suspect in the assault that put the girl, also a Northridge junior, in the intensive care unit at Miami Valley Hospital. Medics relayed to dispatchers that the victim had been beaten with a concrete tabletop. She had severe bruising and swelling to her face and could barely open her eyes, according to a Montgomery County sheriff’s report.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol said Moore was walking southbound on I-75 and hit by a Chevrolet Cobalt driven by Arnita Pitts, 50, of Houston, Texas, at 12:37 a.m. He was pronounced dead at the scene, while Pitts was not injured.

According to the police report by Deputy R.H. Creech, Harrison Twp. officers were responding to the call about Moore being struck when they got another call about the assault. The sheriff’s department lists the assault call coming in at 12:38 a.m.

The victim, whose identity is being protected because she is a juvenile, was listed in serious condition Sunday night. Her mother said the victim and the assailant had been boyfriend and girlfriend until just a few days prior to the assault.

When interviewed by police after the beating, the girl said the assailant came into her house uninvited and dragged her outside with him. She said she believed he was drunk.

According to the report, the victim was found in the yard outside the home by another teen just after midnight. The teen, who was staying at the house, said he saw a male running off before he found the victim. He said he found her face down with the tabletop on her back.

The victim told police that she was punched several times by the suspect, but did not recall much after that. She said she did not recall being struck with the tabletop.

The victim’s mother said Sunday that her daughter’s condition was improving.

“Physically she will improve — she is a strong 17-year-old. But emotionally ...”

Perez said the school community also will rally around the assault victim.

“We’ll do everything we can to help her transition back into school when she’s ready to do that,” he said.

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