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Gilberto Lorenzo, 43, concocted the ambush after mistakenly thinking that the boy threw something out the window of the bus sometime earlier, city Police Director Jerry Speziale said Friday.
Juvenile Division Detective Cindy Carrera began investigating after it was reported that the victim received medical attention at a local hospital following the Dec. 5 attack after getting off the school bus, Speziale said.
Lorenzo picked up the crew on the next block following the assault, he said.
All eight juveniles – 16 and 17 years old -- were taken into custody and remanded to the Essex County Juvenile Detention Center in Newark during the investigation, the director said.
Lorenzo was arrested on Thursday and charged with eight counts each of child endangerment and using a juvenile to commit a crime, as well as single counts of aggravated assault and conspiracy and several involving weapons possession,he said.
Lorenzo was later released from the Passaic County Jail pending a court hearing, records show.
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