28-Year-Old Woman Arrested After Posing as Student at Bronx High School for Two Weeks

Kacy Claassen, 28, enrolled at Westchester Square Academy in the Bronx by claiming to be 16-year-old Shamara Rashad born in 2010. She stated she had just moved to New York City from Ohio with her sister. Claassen attended classes for two weeks and was issued a school ID with the false name and age.

The principal confronted Claassen with a screenshot of her Facebook page that revealed her true identity. Police arrested her on April 27 at the campus. She is charged with endangering the welfare of a child, trespassing, and criminal impersonation.

Claassen has pleaded not guilty and is due back in court on June 15. Claassen claimed a friend made her enroll in the school so she would qualify for more public assistance. Westchester Square Academy is located on a campus with six schools.

Lehman High School sent a letter to families about suspicions regarding Claassen’s identity. New York City Schools stated that enrollment fraud is a serious crime that undermines New York City Public School values. The NYPD is actively investigating the allegations against Claassen.

In a separate incident, a 13-year-old student was arrested after a shooting at a school in Brazil that left two women dead. Four women and nine children with links to Islamic State who have spent years in a Syrian camp are expected to return to Australia on Thursday. All returning Australians apart from a mother and her child are bound for Melbourne, Victoria.

Eleven of the returning individuals are members of the same family and are expected to settle in Melbourne. Two of the returning individuals are a woman and her child expected to settle in Sydney. All members of the returning group hold Australian passports.

The group of 13 left al-Roj camp and travelled to Damascus last month. Some of the returning women are expected to be arrested and charged upon return. Support would be made available for the children upon return.

Victorian premier Jacinta Allan stated that returning children will be asked to undertake countering violent extremism programs. Jacinta Allan stated that anyone who has broken the law will face its full force.