IL - Actor Jussie Smollett allegedly attacked in hate crime being black & gay Jan 2019 *ARRESTS*

[MassGuy]

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The eyes of the country are on this investigation.

It is the duty of the police department to get to the bottom of this. The public will demand it, and their reputation will depend on it.

I’m not worried.

 

[Randazzo]

Can anyone think of a reason for a victim to hire a criminal defense attorney?

 

[Trident]

Can anyone think of a reason for a victim to hire a criminal defense attorney?

I can think of several, but this is a victim friendly site.

 

[MassGuy]

Can anyone think of a reason for a victim to hire a criminal defense attorney?

He is acutely aware that this investigation has changed course, in a direction that points towards him.

He’d be smart to lawyer up, guilty of a crime or not.

It’s easy to read too much into this.

I don’t buy the story, but lawyering up isn’t proof.

 

[mickey2942]

The eyes of the country are on this investigation.

It is the duty of the police department to get to the bottom of this. The public will demand it, and their reputation will depend on it.

I’m not worried.

I believe that this will go away. And it shouldn't. Things like this need to be completely investigated to the highest level and nth degree. Hate crimes should not be allowed in a civilized society.

Nor should people be allowed to create a situation for media attention. Mr. Smollett is still considered a victim, but I have not been impressed by his focus on politics.
'I Am Forever Changed.' Jussie Smollett Speaks about Racist, Homophobic Attack for the First Time

 

[MassGuy]

I believe that this will go away. And it shouldn't. Things like this need to be completely investigated to the highest level and nth degree. Hate crimes should not be allowed in a civilized society.

Nor should people be allowed to create a situation for media attention. Mr. Smollett is still considered a victim, but I have not been impressed by his focus on politics.
'I Am Forever Changed.' Jussie Smollett Speaks about Racist, Homophobic Attack for the First Time

Initially, that was my fear; I absolutely don’t feel that way now.

The press coverage has been overwhelming, and there is tremendous pressure to solve this.

This ain’t going anywhere.

 

[mickey2942]

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If nothing else, I believe that people will take more time for investigations like this to be completed, before jumping into the fray. Probably an excellent lesson.

 

[Gardenista]

If nothing else, I believe that people will take more time for investigations like this to be completed, before jumping into the fray. Probably an excellent lesson.

I disagree, because this has been happening for years and they still jump into the fray. This is why I think hoax hate crimes need to be prosecuted the same as a true hate crime. I can't think of another way to stop it.

 

[Trident]

I disagree, because this has been happening for years and they still jump into the fray. This is why I think hoax hate crimes need to be prosecuted the same as a true hate crime. I can't think of another way to stop it.

Exactly!

 

[Ladylub]

I disagree, because this has been happening for years and they still jump into the fray. This is why I think hoax hate crimes need to be prosecuted the same as a true hate crime. I can't think of another way to stop it.

Agreed because what they did was a hate crime itself.

 

[Randazzo]

Assuming the incident was staged.. what would be the point of staging such a thing early in the morning in subzero temps where nobody would see it? This looks more like a different sort of event occurred (prob embarrassing) and someone concocted a story to hide what really happened. Those brothers (presumably) being out and about at the time of the incident, the refusal of JS to turn over phone records, and the shifting narrative all seem to point to some made up story that no one wants to take credit for...

 

[TTF14]

Assuming the incident was staged.. what would be the point of staging such a thing early in the morning in subzero temps where nobody would see it?

Someone who was over-confident that their word would be taken as bond would probably want there to be no witnesses....

 

[maggieg]

"After interrogating and releasing two men seen in surveillance video near the scene of the alleged attack on “Empire” actor Jussie Smollett, Chicago police are saying that the new information they have “could change the story entirely.”"

"But on Saturday, after their release the night before, police were only considering them to be persons of interest, saying that they may still have information that is helpful to the investigation."

"While police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said on Saturday that he could not speak on what the new information was, he said that the break from detectives has “shifted the trajectory” of the investigation. Though he did not say whether Smollett spoke to the men that night — one of them had previously appeared on “Empire” — he said it will also be central to the investigation whether they spoke to or saw Smollett."

"It’s unclear whether forensic results have come back on any of the seized items on the inventory log."

New information in Jussie Smollett investigation 'could change the story entirely,' police say

 

[MyBelle]

Assuming the incident was staged.. what would be the point of staging such a thing early in the morning in subzero temps where nobody would see it? This looks more like a different sort of event occurred (prob embarrassing) and someone concocted a story to hide what really happened. Those brothers (presumably) being out and about at the time of the incident, the refusal of JS to turn over phone records, and the shifting narrative all seem to point to some made up story that no one wants to take credit for...

I've wondered the same thing!

 

[MassGuy]

Assuming the incident was staged.. what would be the point of staging such a thing early in the morning in subzero temps where nobody would see it? This looks more like a different sort of event occurred (prob embarrassing) and someone concocted a story to hide what really happened. Those brothers (presumably) being out and about at the time of the incident, the refusal of JS to turn over phone records, and the shifting narrative all seem to point to some made up story that no one wants to take credit for...

The whole point was for no one to see it.

They likely avoided surveillance cameras for that very reason.

No one around, means that no one can see anything, especially if it could interfere with the narrative JS told.

All that mattered was JS returning to his apartment, bloodied, discheveled, a rope around his neck, and smelling of bleach.

He leaves to get a sandwich, and comes back the victim of a hate crime. The lobby cameras and police report were all that he would have needed.

 

[human]

The whole point was for no one to see it.

They likely avoided surveillance cameras for that very reason.

No one around, means that no one can see anything, especially if it could interfere with the narrative JS told.

All that mattered was JS returning to his apartment, bloodied, discheveled, a rope around his neck, and smelling of bleach.

He leaves to get a sandwich, and comes back the victim of a hate crime. The lobby cameras and police report were all that he would have needed.

So what does he need the guys for? He could do it all himself

 

[MassGuy]

So what does he need the guys for? He could do it all himself

Not really. He needed someone to bring the rope and bleach. He could have roughed himself up, but it’s easier to have someone else do it.

Also he needed to have people on camera that could have been the perpetrators.

He either didn’t think police would be able to track them down, or that they wouldn’t talk if they did.

If this is what happened, of course.

 

[Puzzles8]

Initially, that was my fear; I absolutely don’t feel that way now.

The press coverage has been overwhelming, and there is tremendous pressure to solve this.

This ain’t going anywhere.

I agree. There is a HIGHLY contested mayoral primary (essentially the main election) on 2/26 in Chicago. There is no way this case will away, no way.
14 candidates vie to become Chicago's next mayor

 

[Gardenista]

Assuming the incident was staged.. what would be the point of staging such a thing early in the morning in subzero temps where nobody would see it? This looks more like a different sort of event occurred (prob embarrassing) and someone concocted a story to hide what really happened. Those brothers (presumably) being out and about at the time of the incident, the refusal of JS to turn over phone records, and the shifting narrative all seem to point to some made up story that no one wants to take credit for...

He thought they were going to see it because it happened right under a camera. Only problem is the camera was pointed north, not down.

 

[TTF14]

He thought they were going to see it because it happened right under a camera. Only problem is the camera was pointed north, not down.

Even if it had been caught on that north-facing camera, eventually it would have still unraveled because LE tracked the two brothers down through good old-fashioned detective work.