Tonja Renée Stidhum - The Root
Investigation is underway regarding the recent Jussie Smollett attack as law enforcement officials and fans alike strive for answers.
One major update came on late Wednesday afternoon when the Chicago Police Department confirmed surveillance footage showing two potential “persons of interest.”
Now, the saga continues as a woman who lives in the same complex as the 35-year-old actor-singer is claiming to have seen a suspicious white man loitering nearby shortly before the reported attack, while she was taking her dogs outside.
The unidentified woman spoke with TMZ, informing them she saw a man she describes as a “redneck” outside of the building she shares with Smollett at around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday pacing back-and-forth between the parking garage and entrance, smoking a cigarette with an agitated demeanor. He was also apparently staring at another man approximately 300 feet away, standing near another entrance.
Hmm, suspicious, indeed.
“He looked out of place,” she said, noting she returned to the building after being “creeped out” by the man.
She described the man as white with facial scruff, wearing a blue winter beanie, a blue zip-up hoodie sweatshirt, too-short blue jeans that exposed his “thick, grey hunting socks,” and camel-colored dress shoes.
The most notable thing she claims to have spotted, is a blue and white rope or clothesline hanging from the white man’s sweatshirt. As previously reported, Smollett claimed to CPD that he was attacked with a noose and chemical substance believed to be bleach.
After hearing of Smollett’s attack, the woman informed the building’s concierge, who then directed her to contact detectives.
As more details come in, hopefully we’re getting closer to finding some concrete answers.
RBP (01-31-2019)
Seems convenient
RBP (01-31-2019)
that makes it even LESS believable.
I wanted to be a Monk, but I never got the chants.
DemonGeminiX (01-31-2019), Teh One Who Knocks (01-31-2019)
DemonGeminiX (01-31-2019), RBP (01-31-2019)
And of course the liberal "Hate Trump" media runs with it like it's the word of God. Story from USA Today this morning:
Assault on 'Empire' actor Jussie Smollett serves as a reminder — lynching, noose symbolism are still prevalent
RBP (01-31-2019)
I'm starting to get a little offended. She sees a stranger and can call him a redneck? Because he had a white face or because he had scruffy facial hair? I have both.
Does this mean next time I see a black person walking down the street I can report I saw a thief or a mugger?
I keep my nooses at home and rarely walk around with them on display.
Neetu Chandak - The Daily Caller
The Chicago Police Department (CPD) said “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett and his music manager are not handing over phone records of a conversation that occurred Tuesday morning during an alleged attack.
“Update on the ‘Empire’ Smollett case: The victim and his manager reported that they were talking on their cell phones to each other but CPD has been unable to independently verify this because they refused to turn over their cell phones,” CPD spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said in a Thursday statement obtained by The Daily Caller News Foundation.
Smollett claimed two men beat him up, tied a noose around his neck, said racial and homophobic slurs and threw an unknown chemical substance on him Tuesday, The Associated Press reported.
Brandon Z. Moore, Smollett’s music manager, said he heard some of the attack while on the phone with Smollett, according to Variety.
“I heard that clearly,” Moore said. “I heard the scuffle and I heard the racial slur.”
TMZ reported Tuesday the attackers were white men wearing ski masks who poured bleach on Smollett and screamed “This is MAGA (Make America Great Again) country.” Smollett reportedly had a fractured rib as well.
Police said the actor did not initially disclose the “MAGA country” comment, but confirmed it in a second interview.
Guglielmi added Moore claimed in the follow-up interview that he heard the “MAGA country” phrase, ABC7 reported.
A police statement said the incident occurred around 2 a.m. on Tuesday.
Police were notified 40 minutes after the attack and found Smollett in his apartment with cuts and scrapes on his face and the rope around the actor’s neck, according to AP. Smollett asked police to shut down the body cameras as he explained why the rope was around his neck.
Smollett was treated at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and was in “good condition,” according to People Tuesday.
Guglielmi said Tuesday evening they could not find video evidence of Smollett getting attacked. Police expanded their search area and found “people of interest” Wednesday, according to a tweet by Guglielmi.
The picture shows two people walking between 1:30 a.m. and 1:45 a.m. in the vicinity where Smollett was allegedly attacked Tuesday, ABC7 reported. Police confirmed Smollett walking across the street from the two people. Cops also found on another camera that looked like Smollett was “wearing a rope like a neck tie.”
Investigation is ongoing.
RBP (01-31-2019)
I wanted to be a Monk, but I never got the chants.
DemonGeminiX (01-31-2019), Teh One Who Knocks (01-31-2019)
Yeah, shut those body cameras off so I can lie to you and you won't have video/audio evidence of it.
Warning: The posts of this forum member may contain trigger language which may be considered offensive to some.
Music was better when ugly people were allowed to make it.
I really hope they press charges after this completely unravels.
I wanted to be a Monk, but I never got the chants.