The Chicago Police Department recently said that they found surveillance footage of the assailants who recently attacked Empire star and R&B singer Jussie Smollett.
Chicago Police’s Chief Communication Officer, Anthony Guglielmi released photos of the “persons of interest” via his Twitter page, yesterday evening. The photos are of two people wearing dark clothing. The video didn’t capture the attack, but police say that they are taking the “assault and battery” seriously, and are looking to question the individuals while more cameras are being surveyed.
After leaving a restaurant, Smollett was walking down the 300 block of East North Water Street when two anonymous assailants approached him while shouting racial and homophobic slurs. They also hit the “I Wanna Love You” singer in the face, poured bleach on him, and wrapped a noose around his neck.
According to ABC News, the FBI will be joining the Chicago police in the investigation. The police said that they are expanding the search area for surveillance footage of the singer and actor and his assailants.
Support for Smollett continues to hit social media from various celebrities like Beyonce’s mother, Tina Lawson, R&B singer Faith Evans, singer, songwriter, and Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kandi Burruss, and rapper and actor T.I.
According to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), FBI hate crime statistics released last year revealed an alarming increase of 17 percent in reported hate crimes from the previous year.
Glennisha Morgan is a Detroit-bred multimedia journalist and writer. She writes about intersectionality, hip-hop and the women in it, pop culture, queer issues, race, feminism, and her truth.