A man who was withJussie Smollettafter he wasviolently attacked in Chicagolast week has spoken out.
Frank Gatson, reportedly Smollett’s choreographer and creative director in Chicago, toldExtrahe was with theEmpirestar the night of Jan. 28 and had picked him up from the airport upon his arrival from New York City.
“I was there with Jussie,” he said. “I’m the one who called 911, I am the one who took him to the hospital, and it was so scary man, that was a scary night, my stomach was numb.”
“I’m just glad I was the old man at his apartment when he got there,” he continued. “I was responsible. I said let’s call the cops, let’s go to the hospital, shout out to Chicago police, especially the sergeant that came and got things together and made us feel comfortable.”
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Smollett was attacked at about 2 a.m. in Chicago on Jan. 29.
The Chicago Police Department confirmed in a statement that a member of the hit Fox show was involved in a “racially-charged assault and battery.”
Last week, Chicago Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi released an update on the case, revealing that investigators have acquired footage that could lead to the arrests of the actor’s assailants. The police also releasedtwo photos of the persons of interest; however, the images did not show the individuals’ faces.
Guglielmi told PEOPLE he is optimistic thatvideo evidence will surfaceto help authorities solve the crime.
Describing the details of the allegations as “heinous,” Guglielmi said police had widened their search of surveillance cameras — both public and private — in the area surrounding where Smollett said he was attacked.
Guglielmi said the actor returned to his apartment afterward and called his manager, who quickly made his way to Smollett’s home. “The manager goes to the apartment, and they agree to call police. The manager called us at 2:40 a.m.,” Guglielmi added.
Police patrols “responded to the residence to take a report and the victim was still wearing the rope around his neck when they arrived,” he said. “He explained to them why he had the rope around his neck, and the officers closed their body cams at his request, because they were in his private residence.”
Even before the incident,additional security had been hiredfor theEmpireset after Fox Studios’ Chicago offices allegedly received a threatening homophobic letter addressed to Smollett, who is gay, last week.
The FBI, who has not responded to PEOPLE’s request for comment, is investigating that alleged letter, Guglielmi told PEOPLE.
Over the weekend, Smollett made hisfirst public appearancesince the attack, taking the stage at the Troubadour in Los Angeles for a scheduled performance during which he addressed the terrifying incident.
“There are so many words on my heart that I want to say,” he began. “The most important that I can say, to keep it simple, thank you so much. I’m okay… I’m not fully healed yet, but I’m going to. I’m going to stand strong with y’all.”
“I had to be here tonight,” he continued. “I couldn’t let those motherf—ers win. So I will always stand for love, I will never stand for anything other than that. Regardless of what anyone else says, I will only stand for love. I hope that you all stand with me.”
Clarifying reports about the attack, Smollett said “there has been a lot of stuff that has been said about me that is absolutely not true.”
“There are just a couple of points that I wanted to make really quick… I was bruised, but my ribs were not cracked,” he said. “I went to the doctor immediately — I was not hospitalized. Both my doctors in L.A. and Chicago cleared me to perform but said to take it easy, obviously. And, above all, I fought the f— back.”
Smollett has sincereturned to workon the hit Fox show.
source: people.com
