Attack against Massachusetts Transgender Teen Being Investigated as possible hate Crime

Massachusetts police announced Wednesday they are currently conducting an investigation into an attack against a transgender teenager as potential hate crime.

Jayden Tkaczyk, 16, had attended a party in Gloucester, Mass. when he was attacked by several teenagers around 10:45 p.m. on August 30, according to local authorities. Gloucester Police Department issued a news release about this alleged assault alleging “all parties involved know each other well”.

Tkaczyk told NBC Boston on Wednesday that 20 to 30 individuals attacked him, many of them classmates; Tkaczyk believes these attacks occurred due to his gender identity and is seeking justice against these perpetrators.

“One moment I was having fun; then the next second I was being assaulted on the ground by two individuals using F slurs against me while punching and stomping me repeatedly,” Tkaczyk recalls.

One of the alleged attackers, according to him, was dating his former flame so “he doesn’t like me very much”.

Tkaczyk, a junior at Topsfield Vocational Academy in Topsfield, Massachusetts told Associated Press he feared for his life during an attack from which he sustained serious injuries – broken facial bone fracture, nerve damage and head trauma among them – all as a result of which are currently healing well and will require months to fully heal from.

“Before being hit, it was terrifying,” Tkaczyk reported. “At times I thought my life might end; but instead kept an optimistic approach and tried not to panic.

Tkaczyk reported being subjected to over 10 years of bullying due to being transgender at school, yet little action have been taken by his school district to address these incidents.

Jasmine Tkaczyk, his mother, revealed to reporters on Wednesday. Jasmine claimed her son has been subject to years of bullying because of being trans.

Craig Rourke, Jayden Tkaczyk’s attorney, did not immediately respond to ABC News’ request for comment, however told ABC News he considers the incident to be a hate crime.

“Their motivations appear fairly clear from their statements,” said Heineman.

Edward Conley of Gloucester Police stated it is still too soon to determine with any certainty if Tkaczyk’s attack was driven by prejudice against her identity.

Conley announced in a press conference Wednesday: “It is still too soon to tell, but we do have information from statements made so far, including initial ones, which suggests we need an investigation,” in order to be prudent and make an accurate evaluation. He suggested assigning someone specifically trained in hate crime investigations as lead investigator.

“We take all allegations involving Gloucester Mayor Greg Verga very seriously,” stated City Administrator Phyllis Hoy. “There will be an independent and fair investigation conducted.”

As this investigation involves minors, officials are limited in what information they can share publicly about it, according to Conley and Verga on Wednesday.

Ben Lummis, Superintendent of Gloucester Public Schools, stated the district is handling allegations with great seriousness and cooperating fully with police investigations of their inquiries into such conduct.

Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey (D), in a social media post published Wednesday evening, requested a comprehensive probe into the attack on Boston Marathon bombing suspect Martin Richard.

“Violence against trans children must never exist within our Commonwealth or country,” said Jayden and all transgender community. We must love, protect and respect trans children.”

According to FBI crime statistics, anti-LGBTQ hate crimes rose sharply between 2022-2025 – the last year for which data is available – and 2026.

Hate crimes motivated by anti-transgender bias increased more than 35% year over year to reach 338 incidents, reported the agency in October.