Police have classified actor Jussie Smollett as a suspect in his alleged attack.

[My Everything]

 

 

Jussie Smollett was named as a suspect Wednesday for allegedly filing a false police report in which he claimed he was attacked in Chicago last month, police said.

 

The move comes weeks after the Empire actor told Chicago police he was attacked early Jan. 29 by two men who threw a bleach-like chemical on him, called him anti-gay slurs, and put a rope around his neck.

 

With Smollett, who is black and gay, maintaining that he was the victim of a hate crime, the reported attack quickly received national attention, putting immediate pressure on Chicago police to solve the case.

 

There was initially little to go on; police released only grainy images of two persons of interest who were captured on surveillance video in Smollett's neighborhood around the time the actor said he was attacked.

 

However, the case took several turns that prompted Smollett to double down in public statements insisting it wasn't all a hoax, telling Good Morning America he was "pissed off" that people were doubting his story.

 

The hoax theory was fanned by the arrest of two potential suspects who, it turns out, had appeared as extras on Empire, and according to their attorney, knew Smollett personally.

 

The men, Obabinjo and Abimbola Osundairo, are brothers and were detained Feb. 15. A search warrant served at their home turned up "a black face mask hat, an Empire script, a phone, receipts, a red hat, and bleach," CBS Chicago reported. The news station also obtained store surveillance footage released Wednesday that appeared to show the two men buying black masks and a red hat, matching Smollett's description of his alleged attackers.

 

Local news stations reported that the brothers told investigators Smollett had paid them to stage the attack out of fear that he was being written off of Empire. But Chicago police pushed back on the reports, and Fox said Smollett's character is still a major part of the show.

 

The two brothers were eventually released after police said they came across information that had "shifted the trajectory" of the investigation. On Wednesday, the brothers arrived at a grand jury room with their attorney and soon afterward Chicago police announced that he was classified as a suspect and that detectives were presenting evidence before a Cook County grand jury.

 

Police, meanwhile, want to re-interview Smollett, who at one point turned over redacted cell phone records. As recently as Wednesday, police said they were in communication with the actor's attorneys.

 

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/jasonwells/jussie-smollett-case-development

 

 

[Micah Bell]

I knew he was lying the minute he said that happened to him. 

[Lil Ayy Big Gay]

If he really fabricated this, he is a stupid bastard.

 

He took advantage of how on edge the LGBT and black communities are currently for a story

[benseac]

This is a pity if it's true. This will just make those who are really attacked more reluctant to come forward. I can imagine it's already hard enough to do. This just makes it even harder.

[kimchi-nyoen]

lmaooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo I told y'all it was fake

[Platty]

HAHAHAHAHA the clownery came back to bite

[jks]

Tbh there’s something very shady about this case... I’m not believing anything yet

[abra]

This is a wild story

[Park Bo Yum]

It seemed shady from the beginning for multiple reasons.

[Hopkinz]

Everyone who lives near Chicago knew this story wasn't real. It's a super democratic city, not necessarily "MAGA country." Also, it's dangerously cold during the winter, especially at night, so you'd have layers upon layers and people wouldn't even recognize you.

[indigo]

I still see people going "But WHY would he DO this?? When he has SO MUCH to loose??" Because he wanted attention. Because he didn't think he'd get caught, the idea was likely unimaginable to him. 

 

You can't look at these  cases as a rational cautious person. You have to think like a narcissist. 

[Caiii]

Damn, seems like everybody wants to have the power that comes with being a victim nowadays. Its like matress girl all over again.

[Cerulean]

What an absolute narcissistic sociopath. He should get jail time for this. Shameful and embarrassing. 

[sergel]

What an absolute narcissistic sociopath. He should get jail time for this. Shameful and embarrassing.

CBS evening news said it ranges from probation to 3 years in prison.

[Keita]

I swear he's so dumb. I'm so dissapointed.