Chicago police have released the two men who were taken into custody in connection with the reported attack on Empire actor Jussie Smollett, and no charges have been filed.
Chicago Police Department spokesman Anthony Guglielmi shared the update on Twitter on Friday. “Due to new evidence as a result of today’s interrogations, the individuals questioned by police in the Empire case have now been released without charging, and detectives have additional investigative work to complete,” he said.
According to police, the two brothers had been named persons of interest and were brought in because there was probable cause that they may have committed a crime. They were taken into custody on Wednesday at O’Hare International Airport in Chicago.
Smollett told police he was attacked on Jan. 29 by two people who yelled racial and homophobic slurs at him. Police said the attackers hit him in the face, poured an unknown chemical substance on him and wrapped a rope around his neck. Police have said Smollett is still being treated as a victim, and he has maintained that he was the target of the attack.
On Thursday, Fox issued a statement supporting the actor and pushing back on online speculation that the attack was staged because Smollett was being written off the show.
Baller Alert will keep you posted as police share more.
