'Empire' filming in Chicago near Jussie Smollett alleged attack site

WLS logo
Tuesday, August 13, 2019
'Empire' filming near site of allegedly staged Smollett attack
'Empire' filming near site of allegedly staged Smollett attack"Empire" is filming near the scene of the allegedly staged attack on former cast member Jussie Smollett.

CHICAGO -- "Empire" is filming near the scene of the allegedly staged attack on former cast member Jussie Smollett.

Co-creator Lee Daniels said in June that the show would go on without Smollett.

The show, now in its final season, has permits to shoot on North McClurg Street and North Water Street for the next two days, according to the City of Chicago website. The permits approve production on both sides of McClurg from East River Drive to East Illinois Street, and the south side of North Water Street to St. Clair Street.

"Empire" is filming near the scene of the allegedly staged attack on former cast member Jussie Smollett.

The site is very close to where Smollett's alleged assault took place in January.

WATCH: Timeline of key moments in alleged attack on Jussie Smollett

"Empire" actor and R&B singer Jussie Smollett told Chicago police in January that two men physically attacked him and yelled racial and homophobic slurs. There have been dozens of twists and turns since then.

Smollett claimed he was the victim of a vicious hate crime in Streeterville in the late hours of January 29. He said two men physically attacked him while yelling racist and homophobic slurs, threw a chemical liquid on him and looped a rope around his neck.

But the investigation turned on the actor as it continued. Chicago police said he orchestrated the attack with the help of the Osundairo brothers, who he knew. One brother was an extra on "Empire" and the other was Smollett's personal trainer.

Police said the Osundairos took a cab to the pre-arranged attack site. In video from the car, the brothers are disguised in what look to be hazmat suits, which one tightens around his face. They climb out of the taxi and surveillance video shows them walking down the street to carry out the allegedly staged attack.

Two days after the alleged attack, Chicago police released surveillance images of two people they said they considered persons of interest in the attack, which was taken from that video.

Police said Smollett staged the attack at a corner where he believed a surveillance camera would capture the attack, and that the facial injuries he sustained were likely self-inflicted.

Police also released bodycam video of the Osundairo brothers being detained by police at O'Hare International Airport after returning from Nigeria. They told police Smollett paid them to stage the attack.

WATCH: Video shows Jussie Smollett with rope around his neck

Chicago police have released nearly 70 hours of video in the Jussie Smollett case.

But the key scene from the police video is Smollett sporting the rope during his first encounter with officers, while his manager tells police the actor doesn't want this to become a big deal.

Police initially charged Smollett with one count of disorderly conduct for filing a false police report. A grand jury then returned an indictment for 16 counts of disorderly conduct for filing a false police report.

Chicago police release investigative files, video of alleged staged attack on 'Empire' actor

Chicago police released their investigative files and video Monday of the alleged staged attack on "Empire" actor Jussie Smollett in late January.

All charges against Smollett were dropped in late February in exchange for community service and forfeiture of his $10,000 bond payment. That decision is already under a separate review by the county's inspector general.

A special prosecutor will soon be appointed to look into why Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx dropped the case and whether Smollett should be re-charged.

Previous coverage:

Jussie Smollett: Judge dismisses motions by 'Empire' actor's attorneys

Jussie Smollett: Attorneys decline special prosecutor role in actor's case, report says

Jussie Smollett news: 'Empire' actor's attorneys argue against special prosecutor, want judge replaced

Jussie Smollett's attorneys argue for Chicago lawsuit to be moved to federal court

Chicago police release investigative files, video of alleged staged attack on 'Empire' actor

Judge orders special prosecutor to review Jussie Smollett case

RELATED: 911 calls released of Jussie Smollett reporting alleged attack

RELATED: Lee Daniels says Jussie Smollett not returning for final season of 'Empire'

RELATED: Cook Co. State's Attorney's Office releases documents in Jussie Smollett case

RELATED: Chicago police release 400 pages of Jussie Smollett case files

RELATED: Judge rules to unseal records in Jussie Smollett case

RELATED: 'Empire' will go 1 more season, Smollett's future is unclear

RELATED: Judge asked to recuse himself from petition to appoint special prosecutor in Jussie Smollett case

RELATED: Jussie Smollett's contract extended, no plans for character to return to 'Empire'

RELATED: Osundairo brothers file defamation lawsuit against Jussie Smollett's attorneys

RELATED: Kim Foxx receives death threats after Jussie Smollett charges dropped

RELATED: Kim Foxx's chief spokesperson resigns from State's Attorney's Office

RELATED: 2 top staffers leaving Kim Foxx's State's Attorney's Office

RELATED: Jussie Smollett update: Kim Foxx's texts and emails raise more questions about recusal

Kim Foxx texts show she thought number of Jussie Smollett charges 'excessive'

Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx asks for review of how Jussie Smollett case was handled

RELATED: Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx asks for review of how Jussie Smollett case was handled

RELATED: City sues Jussie Smollett for cost of investigating alleged staged attack

RELATED: Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx lets Derrion Albert killer off the hook

RELATED: Kim Foxx says 'this is personal' about calls for her to resign

RELATED: Jussie Smollett attorney responds to Chicago's civil suit threat

RELATED: Taraji P. Henson weighs in on 'Empire' co-star Jussie Smollett's case

RELATED: Chicago to file civil suit against 'Empire' actor for not paying $130K cost of police investigation

RELATED: In wake of Jussie Smollett, suburban police chiefs take no confidence stance against State's Attorney Kim Foxx

RELATED: Jussie Smollett case leads to protests for, against Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx

RELATED: Chris Rock rips an absent Jussie Smollett at the NAACP Image Awards

RELATED: Thousands referred for alternative prosecution by Cook County prosecutors haven't completed process

RELATED: Jussie Smollett's surprise deal raises new questions

RELATED: City of Chicago asks Jussie Smollett to pay for $130,000 cost of investigation

RELATED: FBI reviewing circumstances of Jussie Smollett's charges being dropped, sources confirm

RELATED: What's inside the CPD Jussie Smollett investigative file?

RELATED: Mayor Emanuel calls decision to drop charges against Smollett 'whitewash of justice'

RELATED: Charges dropped against 'Empire' actor Jussie Smollett

RELATED: Osundairo brother at center of Jussie Smollett case compete in Chicago boxing match

RELATED: Jussie Smollett update: 'Pain and anger' around 'Empire' in recent weeks, Lee Daniels says

RELATED: FOP accuses Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx of interfering in Jussie Smollett investigation

RELATED: Jussie Smollett pleads not guilty to disorderly conduct charges

RELATED: Jussie Smollett update: Texts shed light on why State's Attorney Kim Foxx recused herself

RELATED: Jussie Smollett appears in court for hearing; Cameras allowed for Thursday hearing

RELATED: Jussie Smollett update: Brothers 'taken advantage of' by Smollett, attorney says

RELATED: Jussie Smollett indicted on 16 felony counts by grand jury

RELATED: Brothers reportedly involved in Jussie Smollett alleged hoax release statement expressing 'regret'

RELATED: Jussie Smollett's check to brothers obtained by ABC News

RELATED: Jussie Smollett's character to be removed from 'Empire', producers say

RELATED: What's next for Jussie Smollett? Possible big police bill

RELATED: Jussie Smollett alleged hoax may cast doubt on real hate crimes, advocates fear

RELATED: Jussie Smollett out on bond after being accused of staging attack

RELATED: Jussie Smollett charged with disorderly conduct for filing false police report, prosecutors say

RELATED: Cook Co. State's Attorney Kim Foxx recuses herself from Jussie Smollett investigation

RELATED: Brothers told police Smollett was upset threatening letter didn't get enough attention, staged attack

RELATED: Activist calls for Smollett's arrest, believes actor lied about attack

RELATED: Brothers tell police that Jussie Smollett paid them to stage attack, official says

RELATED: Sources: Police investigating whether Smollett staged attack with help of others

RELATED: Timeline of key moments in alleged attack on Jussie Smollett

RELATED: Jussie Smollett breaks silence on Chicago attack

RELATED: 'Empire' actor's family releases statement on attack, pictures of possible persons of interest released

RELATED: Photos show potential persons of interest in 'Empire' actor attack, police say

RELATED: 'Empire' actor Jussie Smollett attacked in Chicago in possible hate crime, police say

Copyright © 2024 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.