Police Find 'Persons of Interest' In Jussie Smollett Case
Chicago police are currently questioning two men they have determined are the 'persons of interest' who were seen on video in the area where Jussie Smollett was assaulted on January 29 in a racist and homophobic attack.
CPD Chief Communications Officer Anthony Guglielmi tweeted:
Through s meticulous investigation, #ChicahoPolice detectives have identified the persons of interest in the area of the alleged attack of the Empire cast member. These individuals are not yet suspects but were in area of concern and are being questioned. Investigation continues. pic.twitter.com/tmy2jNvww5
- Anthony Guglielmi (@AJGuglielmi) February 14, 2019
Important for media reporting: The people of interest are alleged to be in the area where a crime was reported. They are not considered suspects at this time as they are currently being questioned by detectives. We remain in communication with the alleged victim. pic.twitter.com/JuH1kYRTYV
- Anthony Guglielmi (@AJGuglielmi) February 14, 2019
This morning, Smollett appeared on Good Morning America, where he said that he believes he was targeted for his public criticism of President Trump and that he feels "doubly victimized" by all the people who have accused him of lying about the attack: “If I had said it was a Muslim or a Mexican or someone black, I feel like the doubters would have supported me a lot more.”
Smollett was on the phone with his manager Brandon Z. Moore when the men approached saying “f*cking Empire n*gger.” Smollett says he replied, “What the f*ck did you just say to me?” and one of the men struck his face, saying “”This is MAGA country” and calling him the racial slur again. He punched back and there was a brief struggle before the men ran off.
His phone had fallen on the ground but Moore was still on the line: “I started screaming, ‘There’s a f*cking rope around my neck.'”
He said he still hopes that video of the attack can be found: “I want a little gay boy who might watch this to see that I fought back. They ran off, I didn’t.”
He also addressed why he declined to turn over his phone to police and instead just give them phone records: “I‘m sorry but I’m not going to do that. Because I have private pictures and videos and numbers: my partner’s number, my family’s number, my cast mate’s number, my friends’ numbers, my private emails, my private songs, my private voice memos.”
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