Teens Charged in Assault on Transgender Teen

Authorities in Gloucester are filing assault and battery charges against three juveniles, two 17-year-olds and one 16-year-old, following an investigation into an attack on a transgender teenager, Jayden Tkaczyk, during a party in August near Dogtown Road. Despite the allegations of a hate crime, evidence did not support such charges, though a specially trained hate crime investigator was involved. The attack left Tkaczyk hospitalized with significant injuries, and a Clerk Magistrate will determine if there is probable cause to proceed with the charges. Defense claims suggest the juveniles acted in self-defense after being threatened by Tkaczyk, though this is contested by the victim's account. The investigation has been described as thorough and compassionate by Police Chief Edward Conley, who emphasized the severity of the incident.