Police in Massachusetts have charged three teenagers with assault and battery for allegedly attacking a transgender boy in Gloucester. The charges come after a months-long investigation by the Gloucester Police Department, which did not find enough evidence to support hate crime charges. The victim, 16-year-old Jayden Tkaczyk, was reportedly left with a broken nose after being beaten, kicked, and stomped on while anti-LGBTQ slurs were used against him. Jayden, a transgender boy, knew his alleged assailants through playing football at Gloucester High School. The charged teenagers, two of whom are 17 years old and one who is 16 years old, will face a Clark Magistrate hearing to determine if there is enough probable cause for the charges to proceed. The case has sparked outrage and calls for justice in the community. Police Chief Edward Conley stated that the department conducted a thorough investigation and the charges were consistent with the evidence. Jayden’s mother, Jasmine Tkaczyk, has not commented on the incident. Jayden described the attack as sudden and brutal, with the attackers repeatedly using derogatory slurs while assaulting him. The case highlights the ongoing issue of violence against transgender individuals and the need for greater awareness and protection for the LGBTQ community.
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Three teenagers accused of attacking transgender Massachusetts boy
