From ... Persons of interest in Jussie Smollett attack captured on camera, police say
Chicago police officials say they plan to release surveillance images Wednesday evening that show two “persons of interest” in the alleged racist and homophobic attack on “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett.
Police say the two individuals are wanted for questioning as detectives continue to investigate Tuesday’s brutal incident as a hate crime.
Until Wednesday evening, police had said detectives did not have enough information to release a description of Smollett’s two assailants despite reviewing hundreds of hours of video from the surrounding area.
Smollett was the target of the reported attack around 2 a.m. Tuesday as he was walking back to an apartment after a late-night meal at a Subway restaurant at 511 N. McClurg Court, police said.
Two men yelled racist and homophobic slurs at Smollett in the 300 block of East North Lower Water Street, before they hit him in the face, poured what is suspected to be bleach on him and put a rope around his neck, Smollett told police.
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• Rush asks for FBI hate crime investigation into attack of ‘Empire’ star
After describing the attackers as men wearing ski-masks and all black clothing in an initial report filed with police, Smollett told detectives in a follow-up interview that the men yelled “this is MAGA country” after they assaulted him.
Smollett was treated for lacerations to his face and neck at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and later released.
The block where the attack took place has parking garage entrances but no retail businesses. Police recovered video from various business, residential and police cameras in the wider area, but none until Wednesday showed any possible suspects. Surveillance camera at the Subway shows Smollett at the restaurant.
More than a dozen police detectives, some specializing in hate crimes, are working the case. They asked anyone with who has information or witnessed the attack to call detectives at (312) 747-8382 or submit an anonymous tip at cpdtip.com.
Congressman Bobby Rush on Wednesday wrote a letter to the FBI asking the bureau to open a hate crime investigation into the attack.
“As you are aware, crimes of this nature strike fear at the very core of a community and have a long-lasting impact on its members,” Rush wrote to FBI Director Christopher Wray. “They are, therefore, rightfully characterized as hate crimes.”
The FBI is already investigating a letter sent on Jan. 22 to Fox and “Empire” offices that used “threatening language” toward Smollett, police said. The letter was laced with some type of white, powdery substance, according to a police spokesman.
A celebrity website, GrapeJuice.net, published a picture of the letter with the words, “You will die black f–,” written in letters apparently cut from magazines.
The FBI has declined to comment on the case.
Chicago police officials say they plan to release surveillance images Wednesday evening that show two “persons of interest” in the alleged racist and homophobic attack on “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett.
Police say the two individuals are wanted for questioning as detectives continue to investigate Tuesday’s brutal incident as a hate crime.
Until Wednesday evening, police had said detectives did not have enough information to release a description of Smollett’s two assailants despite reviewing hundreds of hours of video from the surrounding area.
Smollett was the target of the reported attack around 2 a.m. Tuesday as he was walking back to an apartment after a late-night meal at a Subway restaurant at 511 N. McClurg Court, police said.
Two men yelled racist and homophobic slurs at Smollett in the 300 block of East North Lower Water Street, before they hit him in the face, poured what is suspected to be bleach on him and put a rope around his neck, Smollett told police.
RELATED
• ‘Empire’ star victim of alleged racist, homophobic attack in Streeterville
• Rush asks for FBI hate crime investigation into attack of ‘Empire’ star
After describing the attackers as men wearing ski-masks and all black clothing in an initial report filed with police, Smollett told detectives in a follow-up interview that the men yelled “this is MAGA country” after they assaulted him.
Smollett was treated for lacerations to his face and neck at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and later released.
The block where the attack took place has parking garage entrances but no retail businesses. Police recovered video from various business, residential and police cameras in the wider area, but none until Wednesday showed any possible suspects. Surveillance camera at the Subway shows Smollett at the restaurant.
More than a dozen police detectives, some specializing in hate crimes, are working the case. They asked anyone with who has information or witnessed the attack to call detectives at (312) 747-8382 or submit an anonymous tip at cpdtip.com.
Congressman Bobby Rush on Wednesday wrote a letter to the FBI asking the bureau to open a hate crime investigation into the attack.
“As you are aware, crimes of this nature strike fear at the very core of a community and have a long-lasting impact on its members,” Rush wrote to FBI Director Christopher Wray. “They are, therefore, rightfully characterized as hate crimes.”
The FBI is already investigating a letter sent on Jan. 22 to Fox and “Empire” offices that used “threatening language” toward Smollett, police said. The letter was laced with some type of white, powdery substance, according to a police spokesman.
A celebrity website, GrapeJuice.net, published a picture of the letter with the words, “You will die black f–,” written in letters apparently cut from magazines.
The FBI has declined to comment on the case.
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