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

[maggieg]

But, I don't think that much more will be gleamed from his interview. After all, the investigation is on-going and he wouldn't want to jeopardize anything with these two treacherous MAGA lovin' knuckle dragging peasants walking the streets.

Presumably he'll describe the attack and fighting back and I think we'll get a greater sense if what he describes could have been done with the victim walking away in less than 60 seconds.

(I know it'll be a soft interview so this won't happen) I hope that this interview will have been done post him only turning over redacted incomplete records and he can explain why protecting "the privacy of personal contacts or high-profile individuals" is more important than helping LE solve such a serious crime

 

[FinePrint]

The NY post article said it was found "near the foot of a stairwell to the Loews" but presumably the reporter moved it to smell it etc. so I wonder was that its original position because I agree it looks very out in the open in that photo.

Looking at the picture of the hot sauce it looks pretty much like its entire contents are squashed out all over the ground right there.

 

[CarmenOhio88]

Regardless of whether his story is true, I don't understand why he would go on GMA.

If his story is true, people surely will be left wondering why he didn't give the CPD an official copy of his phone records with at least proof that he was on the phone with his manager at the time of the alleged incident. Can't see how broadcasting that piece of information to a wider audience will help his image one bit.

And if the incident did not occur or did not occur in the way he claims, going on national television would make it very difficult for the CPD to let this thing go without arresting Jussie, and the renewed national attention would put serious pressure on the State's Attorney's office to bring formal charges.

Final point: if his story isn't entirely truthful, the best course of action is to say that this whole ordeal has become too distressing and, as a result, he wants the CPD to cease its investigation so he can move on with his life. I imagine that's what any competent PR firm would advise, anyway.

 

[kimlynn]

Thats a really interesting video (although all the movement when he was cycling made me feel a bit queasy and the end was a bit paranoid), there are definitely questions about why he went the route he did at night in such cold conditions, who would voluntarily walk by the water front. Also the door he entered is so secluded. I assumed when they talked about him walking past security in initial reports that he reentered the building through a main entrance not some dodgy back entrance.

There is no proof that Jussie was by the water.The person in the video guessed he may have taken that path because that was where HE saw a group of benches.
The person doing the video totally missed the bench right outside the apartment of Jussie.
Also are we really questioning the path taken by the victim as though it is some fault on his part? What if he did take that path.Not a crime.
You can bet if the video guy noticed all the cameras the attackers did as well.
Honestly have never seen so many attempts to discredit a victim.
Not directed at you maggieg.Just a general observation. IMO

 

[coffeeandacig]

'Empire' star 'pissed off' after attack amid doubts about his story

"What is it that has you so angry? Is it the...attackers," Roberts asked.

"Attackers, but it's also the attacks," Smollett responded. "It's like, you know, at first, it was a thing of, like, 'Listen, if I tell the truth then that's it, 'cause it's the truth." Then it became a thing of like, 'Oh, how can you doubt that? Like, how do you-- how do you not believe that? It's the truth.'"

"And then it became a thing of like, 'Oh, it's not necessarily that you don't believe that this is the truth, you don't even want to see the truth,'" he added.

So basically the victim will be saying the word "truth" numerous times during his Good Morning America interview.

This victim's PR firm is setting him up as having a "higher calling" because of this incident. Any doubters of his story are just ignorant people who don't want to see...

What an interesting thought process.

 

[FinePrint]

'Empire' star 'pissed off' after attack amid doubts about his story

"What is it that has you so angry? Is it the...attackers," Roberts asked.

"Attackers, but it's also the attacks," Smollett responded. "It's like, you know, at first, it was a thing of, like, 'Listen, if I tell the truth then that's it, 'cause it's the truth." Then it became a thing of like, 'Oh, how can you doubt that? Like, how do you-- how do you not believe that? It's the truth.'"

"And then it became a thing of like, 'Oh, it's not necessarily that you don't believe that this is the truth, you don't even want to see the truth,'" he added.

CPD is having a hard time seeing the truth among all of the cameras in the area and the lack of cooperation with phone records.

Just because someone states something happened doesn't mean that is it, end of story, believe what I say and move on....With such a horrendous crime as described by the victim LE is going to want to check out all of the facts and if they are going to find the attackers they are going to need full cooperation.

I know, some here will say he has cooperated fully with LE but I wouldn't say having negotiations with LE prior to releasing edited and redacted phone records on a PDF file 2 weeks after the attack is fully cooperating. IMO

 

[maggieg]

What if he did take that path.Not a crime.

In no way a crime but just odd on such a cold night at 2am. Perhaps he's adjusted to Chicago winters and doesn't notice the cold like the rest of us would, I wouldn't find taking a scenic route odd any other time of the year

 

[maggieg]

.@Chicago_Police say they will reinterview #JussieSmollett about his redacted phone records sent to them in PDF form when he’s back in town shooting #Empire. They don’t know when that will be.

Rafer Weigel on Twitter

 

[cluciano63]

Jmo...but seeing his phone records won’t find attackers. Will only show if he was on the phone and with whom. Without clear video, attackers wouldn’t be found anyway, unless someone knows them and turns them in. So police are being a bit disingenuous imo in saying in order to find attackers, they need his phone records. That is not why they need them.
Jmo

 

[mickey2942]

Noted, how criminal activity is correlated to temperature. Very little criminal activity when the temperature is lower.
Does a hot summer mean more crime? Here's what the data show

Note, amazing that Mr. Smollett's attack defied the statistical norms of crime in Chicago. He was very unlucky.

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

This is a snippet from the promotional clip for GMA, to be aired tomorrow. His language is far from concise and downright confusing. IMO

Jussie Smollett says he's angry at critics casting doubt on alleged attack

"It's like, you know, at first, it was a thing of, like, 'Listen, if I tell the truth then that's it, 'cause it's the truth," Smollett said. "Then it became a thing of like, 'Oh, how can you doubt that? Like, how do you — how do you not believe that? It's the truth.'"

"And then it became a thing of like, 'Oh, it's not necessarily that you don't believe that this is the truth, you don't even want to see the truth,'" Smollett said.

 

[CrimeDawg123]

Noted, how criminal activity is correlated to temperature. Very little criminal activity when the temperature is lower.
Does a hot summer mean more crime? Here's what the data show

Note, amazing that Mr. Smollett's attack defied the statistical norms of crime in Chicago. He was very unlucky.

Amazing indeed! It wasn't just cold that night, it was life-threatening cold. To think that someone sat on a bench waiting to follow and attack JS completely blows my mind. After being outside that long how could their hands have even been nimble enough to uncap the bottle of bleach and wrangle the thin rope around JS's neck? Amazing determination!

 

[coffeeandacig]

Good Morning America@GMA posted: 56 min

.@JussieSmollett tells @RobinRoberts that there is no doubt in his mind that the men pictured in surveillance footage attacked him. "I don't have any doubt in my mind that that's them." See more of the EXCLUSIVE interview TOMORROW on @GMA. http://gma.abc/2X3c8Tx

 

[FinePrint]

Good Morning America@GMA posted: 56 min

.@JussieSmollett tells @RobinRoberts that there is no doubt in his mind that the men pictured in surveillance footage attacked him. "I don't have any doubt in my mind that that's them." See more of the EXCLUSIVE interview TOMORROW on @GMA. http://gma.abc/2X3c8Tx

Ok great, he's made a positive ID. Now that this has been determined it should be fairly easy for CPD to find these guys.

If CPD was able to catch all of JS movements on video (all but 60 seconds) this too should be so for these two attackers. They have to show up on other cameras not just that one camera in which the image was captured, the one CPD provided to the public.

Should have video of pretty much their entire escape route to a car or nearby building. Shouldn't be too hard to solve this case now that there is a positive ID.

 

[Jax49]

Websleuths is victim friendly ... 39 posts have been removed which violate WS policy in that respect.

UNLESS/UNTIL law enforcement indicates they are not taking this case seriously, posts that are not victim friendly will be removed and posting privileges may be suspended either temporarily or permanently.

Also, leave politics out of this discussion. Warning points for introducing politics into a thread can remain permanently on a member's account.

Post accordingly.

Bumping.

 

[TMAN2014]

Let the facts, or lack of, speak for themselves.

 

[beatrixpotter]

I don't know the man from Adam. I'd never even heard of his show before this thread and still don't even know what the show is about. I saw one clip of the guy somewhere and he seemed like a perfectly nice guy.

It's just the story on the face of it sounds really weird. I'd have a hard time believing it all if it was my own family. I tend to be skeptical though. It sounds like if someone attacked him they did it to send a message more than do any actual damage. I've never heard of someone trying to douse someone in chemicals in the most ineffective manner possible for instance. A hot sauce bottle of bleach would be a great way to ruin a suit for instance but not a good way to harm someone.

Does he have any particular enemies? I've heard reference to a note at work but not heard any detail. Was it related to this case?

 

[coffeeandacig]

Does he have any particular enemies? I've heard reference to a note at work but not heard any detail. Was it related to this case?

A threat letter was sent to him a week or so prior to the attack. I believe there is a picture of it at the beginning of this thread. It was handed over to the FBI, and they are in charge of that case. Hope that helps.

 

[cybervampira]

ABC NEWS EXCLUSIVE: Singer Jussie Smollett is speaking out to ABC News and Robin Roberts about the alleged hate crime against him in Chicago, discussing the grainy surveillance image released by police of two potential persons of interest – as authorities continue to seek information from his phone that night. Alex Perez reports. Jussie Smollett tells ABC News' Robin Roberts he's 'pissed off' after vicious attack

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1554926451318505

 

[BayouBelle_LA]

CHICAGO — Nearly two weeks after “Empire” star Jussie Smollett claimed he was the victim of a racist, homophobic attack, cops have yet to identify any suspects — and some people in his tony Chicago neighborhood are growing skeptical.

“I don’t believe it happened the way he said it did,” said Agin Muhammad, who lives in the same swank high-rise near the Navy Pier as Smollett.

“I’ve been in this neighborhood five years. I don’t believe it, not around here … Half the people are gay and the other half are black.”

A patron at Lizzie McNeill’s Irish Pub, about a block from the scene of the alleged Jan. 29 incident, said Smollett’s story “doesn’t really make sense.”

“It’s a lie, because Chicago is the most liberal city around,” said the man, who wouldn’t give his name. “They have cameras everywhere … Why can’t they find the attack?”

https://nypost.com/2019/02/11/jussie-smolletts-neighbors-cast-doubt-on-his-attack-story/