UPDATE: 1/31/2019 10:49 AM ET – Speaking with TMZ anonymously, a woman who lives in the same apartment building as actor Jussie Smollett says she saw a man who looked like a “redneck” pacing between the building’s entrance and the parking garage.
The man looked “out of place” as he was sporting a blue winter beanie, blue jeans, and a sweater. He was also looking at another man who was standing in front of the building’s alternative entrance. The men she described appear to be different from those spotted on surveillance cameras the night of the attack.
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According to reports, police are on the hunt for ‘persons of interest’ in the Jussie Smollett attack in Chicago. In the grainy surveillance video’s screen grab, two men are walking together near the area and around the time where the attack occurred. However, it’s hard to see any physical features.
TMZ writes “Cops say the two people in the image were walking on New Street near the intersection with E. Illinois Street between 1:30 AM and 1:45 AM. They’re about a block from the Subway restaurant Jussie had gone to Tuesday morning … and roughly halfway between the restaurant and Jussie’s home.”
Earlier this week, the Empire actor was attacked with racial and homophobic slurs by two men, who were reportedly wearing ‘Make America Great Again’ hats and ski-masks. They reportedly doused him in a liquid believed to be bleach and tied a noose around his neck. Smollett, 35, transported himself to Northwestern Memorial Hospital Tuesday (Jan. 29) morning.
According to reporter Rob Elgas via Twitter, Smollett was walking in the opposite direction of the persons of interest on the tape. His manager, Brandon Moore, was on the phone with his client and heard some of the attack. After appearing out of frame for about 60 seconds, Smollett reappears on the surveillance footage with a rope around his neck “wearing it like a neck tie.”
Police say both Smollett and the “persons of interest” walk out of frame (on different cameras). Smollett would reappear on a different camera about a minute later. So basically for about 60 seconds Smollett is not on surveillance camera.
— Rob Elgas (@RobElgasABC7) January 31, 2019
NEW: Chicago police CONFIRM Jussie Smollett and his music manager, Brandon Moore, told detectives they were on the phone when Smollett was being attacked.
— Rob Elgas (@RobElgasABC7) January 31, 2019
The next time Smollett is seen on surveillance camera, he is entering a condo building. Police say he now has a rope around his neck and is “wearing it like a neck tie”. About a minute (maybe less) has passed since he was seen on video.
— Rob Elgas (@RobElgasABC7) January 31, 2019