Jussie Smollett’s mugshot has been released after he was arrested for staging an attack on himself and filing a false police report.
The Empire actor was considered a victim after he stated that he was attacked by two men in what was being referred to as a homophobic attack and a hate crime. But Jussie soon turned from victim to a criminal and police officers explained how they came to doubt Smollett’s story.
In a news conference, the Police Superintendent expressed his outrage at Jussie Smollett for allegedly betraying the African American and LGBT communities to further his career in a “publicity stunt.”
The Superintendent said Smollett created the fake attack because “he was dissatisfied with his salary.” The Superintendent also said the wounds on Jussie were most likely self-inflicted.
As for the hate mail sent to Fox Studio in Chicago for Jussie, the Superintendent said Jussie sent a “false letter”.
Law enforcement sources said the police had doubts about Jussie’s story early on. According to TMZ, the police found it weird Jussie kept the rope around his neck for 42 minutes after the “attack,” and were suspicious when he took them to the scene and immediately pointed to a camera which he said captured the incident. Turns out, the camera was pointed in the wrong direction.
Abel and Ola Osundairo, the Nigerian brothers arrested with relation to the attack, told police Jussie planned the attack with them. They said they drove with Jussie in the days prior to the incident scouting a location and even rehearsed the “attack.”
Law enforcement believes Jussie timed the “attack” for January 29 because he knew the Osundairo brothers were leaving for Nigeria that day.
