Police Have Persons of Interest in Jussie Smollett Hate Crime

A day after Jussie Smollett was attacked in a vicious hate crime, police are seeking persons of interest.

After watching surveillance video, investigators have a lead and are asking for the public’s help to locate multiple persons of interest, according to TMZ.

Chicago police say detectives were able to find a camera angle that revealed “persons of interest wanted for questioning” in the brutal attack of the “Empire” star. Authorities plan to release images of the alleged assailants shortly.

Photos of people of interest who were in area of the alleged assault & battery of Empire cast member. While video does not capture an encounter, detectives are taking this development seriously & wish to question individuals as more cameras are being reviewed pic.twitter.com/xJDDygtocr

— Anthony Guglielmi (@AJGuglielmi) January 31, 2019

Early Tuesday morning (Jan. 29), two men in ski masks attacked Jussie outside a Subway in Chicago, tied a rope around his neck, and doused him with bleach. As they left, they reportedly yelled, “This is MAGA country.” Smollett was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital where he was treated.

The homophobic and racist attack reportedly happened near Jussie’s residence. Police are still reviewing city-owned and privately-owned building cameras in the area.

Smollett’s friends have taken to social media to share their support in the wake of the horrific hate crime. “I wish what happened to my baby was just one big bad joke but it wasn’t and we all feel his pain right now,” said his “Empire” co-star Taraji P. Henson. “@jussiesmollett is pure love to the bone AND THAT IS WHY SO MANY ARE FEELING HIS PAIN BECAUSE IT IS OUR PAIN!!! I tell you one thing HATE WILL NOT WIN!!!! My baby is resilient and love still lives in him.”