Chicago police question actor Jussie Smollett and 2 'persons of interest,' including man who worked

[madville]

Source: Chicago Tribune

Chicago police question actor Jussie Smollett and 2 'persons of interest,' including man who worked on 'Empire'. During his first interview since the attack, Smollett said he believes the two people in the video are his attackers.

“ ’Cause … I was there,” he replied when “GMA’s” Roberts asked how he was sure. "For me, when that was released, I was like, 'OK, we're getting somewhere,' you know what I'm saying? So, yeah, I don’t have any doubt in my mind that that’s them. Never did.”

A law enforcement source said the two men were brought in for questioning Wednesday night from O’Hare International Airport. One of them worked on "Empire," the source said.

Guglielmi said the two men — who sources say are both black — were tracked down "through meticulous investigation."

Read more: https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/ct-met-jussie-smollett-persons-of-interest-20190214-story.html

[Beakybird]

1. One worked on Empire? That's a pretty big coincidence.

[madville]

2. It certainly is

Chicago PD is really going to want to see unredacted phone records now since it was an prior acquaintance of his.

Not saying anything negative against Smollett, it quite possibly could have been an attack by a disgruntled coworker or someone he knew, that was never ruled out.

[demmiblue]

3. Ugh:

UPDATE: The 2 persons of interest in Smollett case are still being questioned by police and have been for hours. Their homes were raided overnight by police searching for possible evidence.

MORE: One of those persons of interest has appeared on Empire.
Smollett is also being questioned by police. Chicago police have no new comment. No one has been charged.

MORE: During the raid police retrieved shoes, electronic devices and other items they believe could help them determine whether the two people played any role in the alleged assault on Smollett.

Standby for a MAJOR development in the Jussie Smollett case.

BREAKING: Multiple soucres tell @ABC7Chicago Eyewitness News Jussie Smollet and the 2 men who are being questioned by police staged the attack - allegedly because his character was being written out of the show Empire.

MORE: Someone familiar with the investigation says Smollet was a no-show for an interview earlier today with detectives. All of this coming hours after Smollett spoke to @GMA speaking out in his first media interview taking aim at those who doubted his story.

From this Twitter thread:

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1090374890073530369.html

[Honeycombe8]

4. Oh-oh. I hope that isn't true.

That the whole thing was staged. Taking resources away from real crimes. And then there would be the fact that if this is true, his acting career is over.

[Codeine]

6. Honestly, did anyone actually buy his story?

It was pretty weak from the very beginning.

[Mr. Frost]

11. Seems many, including myself

has a habit of jumping the gun. Especially during these times.

[Codeine]

12. But it was so over-the-top and contrived.

All it lacked was a bad guy twirling his mustaches while tying Smollet to the railroad tracks.

[metalbot]

16. Anyone?

Link to original LBN thread:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142255270

[Codeine]

17. I don't think those posters all believed it.

A certain sort of person needs to continually demonstrate their bona fides by making the correct noises when presented with a situation. They’re willing to discard or sublimate their doubts in order to be seen as being on the Right Side.

It’s like the people who pretended to believe the Virginia governor’s stupid-ass story about a Micheal Jackson cosplay — they knew it was bullshit but it gave them something upon which to hang their hats.

[theboss]

20. The issue with this story has always been the location of the attack

Two MAGA hat wearing racist homophobes were just hanging out in that part of Chicago waiting for an opportunity to attack a relatively famous actor/activist?

[AJT]

7. If it was staged, how in the world did he think he could get away with it?

From the beginning a lot of people here said it seemed fishy, they were probably right.

[madville]

9. Who knows

I just read that the two Nigerian guys boarded a plane and have been in Nigeria since the day of the attack. Chicago Police were waiting on them at O'Hare Airport when they got off their return flight last night.

[madville]

8. It's unraveling pretty fast now

CHICAGO -- Chicago police confirmed Thursday that detectives are talking to two persons of interest in connection with the alleged attack on "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett.

Multiple sources have told ABC7 Eyewitness News that police are investigating whether Smollett and the two men staged the attack allegedly because Smollett was being written off of "Empire."

A source familiar with the investigation told the ABC7 I-Team that Smollett failed to appear for an interview with detectives earlier Thursday.

A source briefed on the Smollett investigation confirmed to ABC News that Chicago police are questioning the two persons of interest -- one of whom has appeared on "Empire."

https://abc7chicago.com/sources-smollett-staged-attack-with-help-of-others-allegedly-being-written-off-empire/5138497/

[DBoon]

10. I recall an OP here

Which lambasted anyone who questioned his story for insensitivity to the struggles of LGBT people.

[Raine]

13. The story stunk from the beginning

too over the top, the way everything but the kitchen sink was the thrown in ... bleach, rope, maga, racist and homophobia slurs.

[oldsoftie]

18. This was my biggest wonder:

Its 2am, Chicago, January. If you are out, you'll be wrapped up like a burrito from the cold. Plus its dark. How would anyone recognize you??

[skypilot]

19. everything but the kitchen sink

That's how I felt when I first read about it. I have not commented on this story at all until just now. As over-the-top as the attack seemed to sound, I thought that it could still be possible. Lots of over-the-top nutty people around these days--and that would include Smollet if he made all of this up. But even now I'm kinda hoping that some facts will come out to help verify Smollet's story. Otherwise, this guy has just flushed his career down the toilet.

[Devil Child]

14. Not suprised at all by this

I was skeptical from the start as this incident sounded "too good" to be true.

[oldsoftie]

15. Wait till its an official statement folks.

Don't wanna eat crow