Jussie Smollett's family said Thursday that the attack on the black and gay "Empire" actor in downtown Chicago this week was a "hate crime" and they pushed back against any suggestion that he was anything but honest with the police. His story has never changed, and we are hopeful they will find these men and bring them to justice," the family said. They thanked the public "for their prayers" and said the family is "so grateful that God saw him through this cowardly attack alive." Smollett told police that two masked men jumped him on his walk home around 2 a.m. Tuesday. Chicago has one of the nation's most sophisticated and extensive video surveillance systems, including thousands of cameras on street poles, skyscrapers, buses and in train tunnels.

Source: ABC News January 31, 2019 15:23 UTC