Police are seeking assault charges after a transgender boy was beaten in Massachusetts

GLOUCESTER, Mass. — Police in Massachusetts want to charge three teenagers in connection with an attack on a transgender boy in August.

After a lengthy investigation, Gloucester police said Friday it has filed criminal complaints against two 16-year-old boys and a 17-year-old boy. The teens will then face a hearing in juvenile court, after which a court clerk will determine if there is probable cause to proceed.

The victim, Jayden Tkaczyk, said he was at an outdoor party when as many as a dozen teenagers attacked him, shouted homophobic slurs at him and chased him into the woods. He said he was treated at a hospital for a broken bone under his right eye and scratches and bruises on his body.

Police assigned a specially trained hate crimes investigator to the case and consulted with other experts, but the evidence does not support the hate crime charge, Chief Edward Connelly said in a statement.

“Our department conducted a meticulous, thorough and compassionate investigation and the resulting charges are consistent with the evidence,” Conley said. “Our thoughts remain with the victim, who suffered significant injuries in this attack.”