“Empire” actor Jussie Smollett turned himself in to Chicago police early Thursday morning, hours after he was charged with disorderly conduct for allegedly staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself last month in Streeterville.
Jussie Smollett turned himself in about 5:00 a.m. Thursday, February 21, 2019 at a Chicago Police Station at 18th Street and State Street — 1st District Central.
Initially, Smollett told police on January 20, 2019 that he was attacked in the block of 400 East Lower North Water Street in the Streeterville neighborhood of Chicago. Smollett said two men, who hurled racist and anti-gay slurs at him, poured on unknown liquid on him, and looped a rope “noose” around his neck.
There were suspicious circumstances about the report, but Chicago Police Department officially maintained that the case was being investigated, considering Smollett as a victim. However, the case unraveled when Nigerian brothers Olabinjo and Abimbola Osundairo, who were suspected of being responsible for the attack, were discovered to be acquaintances of Smollett. Additionally, police presented evidence to Olabinjo and Abimbola Osundairo that showed they bought the rope suspected of being used as the “noose” and asked them for an explanation.
Monday night February 18, 2019, news circulated that Olabinjo and Abimbola Osundairo claimed they helped Smollett concoct the alleged assault when Smollett became upset after he received a letter threatening him, and that the letter addressed to the “Empire” show’s studio, did not get enough attention. Police had detained the Osundairo brothers Thursday February 13, 2019; but did not confirm there was any hoax.
On Monday and Tuesday (February 18-19, 2019) a surprising development was unveiled that described that the FBI and the US Postal Inspection Service was investigating whether Jussie Smollett played a role in sending a threatening letter addressed to himself at “Empire’s” Chicago studio prior to the alleged attack. Investigation of the Smollett case gradually caused attention to point toward Smollett, who police said they would like to question again.
On Wednesday, February 20, 2019, Smollett was charged with a Class 4 felony for falsifying a police report.
Avoiding media gatherings at police stations at 35th Street and Michigan Avenue and 51st Street and Wentworth, Smollett turned himself about 5 a.m. Thursday at the 1st District police station at 18th Street and State Street near the South Loop neighborhood and Chinatown. Chicago police Superintendent Eddie Johnson scheduled a Thursday morning (9:00 am.) news conference to announce Smollett’s arrest. Smollett is scheduled to appear in bond court at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, February 21, 2019.
Already, several public personalities are calling for Smollett to face his punishment and pay for the costs of the investigation, which is estimated in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx announced that she is recusing herself from the investigation because of “familiarity with a potential witnesses in the case.”
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Gloria Schmidt the attorney for the the two brothers says #JussieSmollett is lying and the “truth will set him free” adding she doesn’t know how Jussie Smollett’s conscience lets him sleep at night. pic.twitter.com/xSQSGZNfYm
— Rafer Weigel (@RaferWeigel) February 21, 2019
#JussieSmollett is now in custody. #CPD says they Negotiated w/ his attorneys last night 4 his surrender. Met them w/ him at 5am at 1st district. #Smollett Came in quietly. Met detectives at the door without incident. Brought in for processing. Transferred 2 CC Courthouse
— Rafer Weigel (@RaferWeigel) February 21, 2019
Black Lives Matter & anti-police activist @deray also used his influential platform to try to discredit @fox32news reporter @RaferWeigel. https://t.co/7Wop3nGD65 pic.twitter.com/FPMQYDRhcr
— Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) February 15, 2019
Jussie Smollett’s made arrangements to turn himself in last night (away from cameras)
Now being processed. Fingers prints, mug shot..
He will be transported to court.
“He has made no statement to police.”-CPD spox @cbschicago
— Charlie De Mar (@CharlieDeMar) February 21, 2019