The investigation into the alleged attack on one of the star actors of the TV show "Empire" continued Thursday as police attempt to fill the timeline of events.
Police say they are still in the process of reviewing hours of surveillance video, but they also say, based on the number of cameras in the area of the alleged attack on Jussie Smollet there would be no way to slip by undetected.
Investigators say they have been able to verify parts of his 900-foot journey. Smollett told police he went to a Subway sandwich shop and police say video evidence supports that. Between 1:30 and 1:45 a.m. two people of interest were seen here. Police say one block away the alleged assault happened.
Police say Smollett told them two masked men “dressed in black” beat him, hurled “racial and homophobic slurs” at him, poured a chemical on him and tied a rope around his neck.
At a performance Saturday night Smollett addressed the alleged attack for the first time.
“I was bruised but my ribs were not cracked," he said. "They were not broken."
"And above all, I fought the f--- back,” he said to applause.
Police have determined the alleged attack would’ve happened within a short period of time: a minute or less. They say Smollett is off camera for about 60 seconds.
Police remain focused on the two “persons of interest” but say there’s no reason to believe they were involved in the attack. They do not appear alongside Smollett on any police reviewed video.
Investigators are also focusing on the “white rope” tied around his neck. It has been analyzed and retailers who sell the same kind of rope have been identified.
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Police have indicated that the rope was similar to a clothesline. They gathered surveillance video from the vendors who sell the rope which they indicate is similar to a clothesline.
