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Police Find New Surveillance Camera Footage In Jussie Smollett Assault Case
Even with the newly discovered footage, Chicago police are still looking to the public to provide information that could help the investigation into the attack on the the "Empire" star.
Police have yet to apprehend two unidentified men suspected of assaulting actor Jussie Smollett, but they have located more surveillance footage relevant to the case.
The 35-year-old “Empire” star was allegedly attacked by two men as he was leaving a Subway restaurant in Chicago at around 2 a.m. on Jan. 29. The men allegedly started off their attack by shouting racist and homophobic slurs at Smollet, before beating him, throwing an unknown chemical on him, and leaving a noose around his neck.
Days after the attack, police released surveillance footage of two men considered persons of interest in the case. Anthony Guglielmi, Chief Communications Officer for the Chicago Police Department, said in an update on Monday that police have since located more surveillance footage, but they are still calling for the public’s help.
“Detectives continue to follow up on investigative leads as additional security cameras have been located and footage is being downloaded and reviewed,” his statement reads. “The people of interest have not been identified (as homeless or otherwise).”
A portion of the newly discovered footage shows Smollett entering his apartment building with the noose still around his neck, an unnamed police official told CBS Chicago.
New details concerning the alleged assault were also released to the public this week. An early incident report states that Smollett did not initially want to report the alleged attack to police, ABC News reports. It was a friend of his who called police on his behalf, and officers arrived at the actor’s home to find him in stained clothes and a “white rope draped around” his neck, according to the outlet.
Smollett reportedly told police that the men who allegedly assaulted him yelled, “This is MAGA country,” as they left, according to earlier reports. He went to the doctor directly following the attack to treat his injuries, which included bruised ribs, Smollett said during his first post-assault performance on Saturday. Despite his injuries, he said that doctors have cleared him to continue performing.
“I had to be here tonight, y’all. I couldn’t let those motherf---ers win,” he said, according to Variety. “I will always stand for love. I will only stand for love.”
[Photo: Getty Images]
