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With all the twists and turns it can be hard to keep up with the case, but here’s what we know so far:
They said that in the early morning of January 29 he was attacked by two people who were “yelling out racial and homophobic slurs” and “poured an unknown chemical substance on the victim” in the Streeterville neighborhood where he had been staying while filming his hit TV show “Empire.”
Smollett took himself to Northwestern Memorial Hospital where he and a friend spoke with CNN’s Don Lemon and confirmed the incident had happened.
He identifies as gay and since 2015 has portrayed the gay character of Jamal, a successful singer in the musical Lyon family on his show.
20th Century Fox Television and Fox Entertainment offered their support after the reported attack.
“We are deeply saddened and outraged to learn that a member of our ‘Empire’ family, Jussie Smollett, was viciously attacked last night,” a representative of 20th Century Fox Television and Fox Entertainment said in a statement to CNN. “We send our love to Jussie, who is resilient and strong, and we will work with law enforcement to bring these perpetrators to justice. The entire studio, network and production stands united in the face of any despicable act of violence and hate — and especially against one of our own.”
Hollywood and fans rallied
“Empire” creator Lee Daniels posted his support on his official Instagram account.
More details start to emerge
According to Guglielmi, Smollett told detectives during his walk back from Subway sandwiches, he was attacked by two men near the lower entrance of the Lowes.
The actor told police the two men yelled “‘Empire’ fa***t” and “‘Empire’ n***er” while striking him, before putting a noose around his neck and pouring an unknown substance on him.
Police were called 30 to 40 minutes after the attack, Guglielmi said.
Investigators said they had the rope and Smollett’s sweater in their custody and were testing for the unknown substance on them.
We also learned that Smollett and his manager Brandon Moore said they were speaking on the phone at the time of the attack.
‘Persons of interest’
Police released an image of two individuals walking down a sidewalk. Their faces were not visible.
Police told CNN they had not found photos or video of the incident.
Smollett’s family responds
Smollett is the member of a large family that includes several siblings who are also in the industry.
“Jussie has told the police everything from the very beginning,” the statement said, “His story has never changed, and we are hopeful they will find these men and bring them to justice. “
The letter
Guglielmi told CNN that a letter containing a white powder was received on January 22 at Cinespace Studios in Chicago, where “Empire” is filmed.”
The prompted a response from the hazardous materials unit, he said.
Guglielmi said authorities determined the powder to be aspirin, but he declined to give details on the content of the letter and said the FBI was leading the investigation into it.
A spokesperson for 20th Century Fox Entertainment, which produces the series, declined to comment when reached by CNN.
Possible witness?
The unidentified neighbor also told police she saw another man in the vicinity of the building.
Detectives met with the woman and took her statement, Guglielmi said.
Smollett breaks his silence
“I am working with authorities and have been 100% factual and consistent on every level,” Smollett wrote. “Despite my frustrations and deep concern with certain inaccuracies and misrepresentations that have been spread, I still believe that justice will be served.”
‘I can’t let attackers win’
“I had to be here tonight, y’all, I couldn’t let those (expletives) … win,” he said. “Above all, I fought … (expletive) back.”
He also clarified his injuries, saying he was bruised but his ribs were neither cracked nor broken.
Hesitant to report the incident
The report included details such as Smollett’s descriptions of the alleged attackers’ clothing and mentioned details previously released by authorities, including what the alleged attackers said to Smollett.
Smollett’s first TV interview
On Thursday, “Good Morning America” aired its interview with Smollett talking to Robin Roberts.
Smollett told Roberts one of the attackers said, “‘This MAGA country, n****r’ and he punched me in the face so I punched his a** back.”
“It feels like if I had said it was a Muslim or a Mexican or someone black, I feel like the doubters would have supported me a lot much more,” Smollett said. “And that says a lot about the place where we are as a country right now.”
He also said he respects victims of hate crimes too much to lie about what happened.
The star theorized that he had been targeted because of his vocal criticism against Donald Trump and his administration, telling Roberts, “I come really hard against 45.”
‘Empire’ connection
Guglielmi had said earlier on Twitter that “the people of interest are alleged to be in the area where a crime was reported. They are not considered suspects at this time.”
The two men are Nigerian brothers and were questioned by police after flying into Chicago-O’Hare International Airport from Nigeria on Wednesday evening, Guglielmi said.
Police said they searched the men’s apartment earlier.
Suspects arrested
Earlier Friday, said the brothers were being treated as “potential suspects” and that detectives had “probable cause that they may have been involved in an alleged crime.”
Police did not say what the men were accused of or what the alleged crime might have been.
CNN’s Sandra Gonzalez, Ryan Young, Darran Simon, Amanda Watts, Christina Maxouris, Dakin Andone and Paul Vercammen contributed to this report
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