Empire's Jussie Smollett Assaulted In Chicago, Police Investigate As Possible Hate Crime
Chicago (CBS) -- The Chicago Police Department received a report of a possible racially-charged assault and battery against an 'Empire' cast member. Sources told CBS 2 the cast member is Jussie Smollett.
Police said the victim was walking home from a Subway, in the 300 block of E. Lower North Water Street, around 2 a.m. when two offenders yelled racial and homophobic slurs at him.
The offenders then attacked the victim with their hands and poured an unknown chemical substance on the him.
[UPDATE: Jussie Smollett's Supporters React To Attack On Actor In Chicago]
A rope was also wrapped around the victim's neck.
The 36-year-old man took himself to Northwestern Hospital in good condition. The offenders fled the scene.
Police are investigating and treating this incident as a possible hate crime. Anyone with information is asked to contact police.
Anthony Gugliemi of the Chicago Police Department tweeted about the incident.
UPDATE: We continue to seek any available evidence/video to identify possible offenders in this case. Anyone who may hv been in area of 300 E North Water St btwn 1-3a should send info to https://t.co/g9Q1Srtgmc. Thus far we have not found anything to be able put out a description pic.twitter.com/wxdA0OOjZz
— Anthony Guglielmi (@AJGuglielmi) January 29, 2019
Fellow cast member Vivica A. Fox tweeted support for Jussie Smollett on Tuesday, "I'm just now hearing the news about the senseless hate attack on my #EMPiRE Nephew @JussieSmollett IM SO ANGRY AND HURT ABOUT THIS! THIS MUST STOP!! SPREAD LOVE NOT HATE! PRAYERS UP TO U NEPHEW!"
I'm just now hearing the news about the senseless hate attack on my #EMPiRE Nephew @JussieSmollett IM SO ANGRY AND HURT ABOUT THIS! THIS MUST STOP!! SPREAD LOVE NOT HATE! PRAYERS UP TO U NEPHEW! ????????????????♀️????????♀️ pic.twitter.com/p4GqfNW3An
— Vivica A. Fox (@MsVivicaFox) January 29, 2019