Chicago police have discovered video revealing “persons of interest” in relation to the assault of actor Jussie Smollet, who was attacked by two white men wearing ski masks.
According to a tweet by Chicago police communications officer Anthony Gugliemi: “Hours ago #ChicagoPolice detectives located a surveillance camera that shows potential persons of interest wanted for questioning in reference to the assault & battery of Empire actor. A community alert w/ photos is being constructed and will be disseminated shortly.”
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“Empire”actor Jussie Smollett sent shock ways across social media when news emerged today (January 29, 2019) he was brutally assaulted on a Chicago street in what has all the markings of a hate crime.
While in the city to film for “Empire,” the openly gay Smollett, who plays the role of gay character Jamal Lyon, stepped out at 2:00 AM to eat at a nearby Subway Shop when two white men with ski masks began shouting racial and gay slurs at Smollett. The two thugs roughed him up, put his head in a noose, poured bleach on him and yelled, “This is MAGA country!”
Smollett was able to fight the two men off and transported himself to Northwestern Memorial hospital where he was treated for a fractured rib and discharged later Tuesday morning. Images have emerged (below) showing Smollet with a swollen face and a laceration under his right eye.
The Chicago police department has begun searching for surveillance video to see if the attack was captured on film.
At the same time, according to That Grape Juice, the police are investing a letter addressed to Smollett with a note (below) inside reading “You will die black fag.” According to the site, the letter was sent to Fox Studios in Chicago eight days ago.
In a statement on Instagram (below),”Empire” co-creator and show producer Lee Daniels stated, “It’s taken me a minute to come to social media about this because Jessie, you are my son. You didn’t deserve and nobody deserves to have a noose put around your neck, to have bleach thrown on you, to be called ‘die faggot, nigger,’ or whatever they said to you. You are better than that. We are better than that. America is better than that. It starts at home. It starts at home, yo. We have to love each other regardless of what sexual orientation we are because it shows we are united on a united front and no racist fuck can come in and do the things that they did to you. Hold you head up, Jussie. I’m with you. I’ll be there in a minute. It’s just another day in fucking America.
According to TMZ, sources connected to production say Jussie and the main “Empire” cast members will have armed security while shooting in Chicago.
