L.A. rapper Blueface arrested on suspicion of attempted murder in Las Vegas massacre
A man suspected of being involved in the 2016 shooting at a festival in Las Vegas last year, who is now considered a victim in the shooting, was arrested in Los Angeles after an encounter with police outside a nightclub.
The rapper was arrested Friday by police in the Hollywood Hills on suspicion of attempted murder in the incident that left 58 people dead and more than 500 wounded.
Jussie Smollett, who is gay, was also charged with 16 counts of disorderly conduct and was released on a $100,000 bond Friday night.
A Los Angeles police spokesman said Smollett, 36, has been identified as a suspect in a case that “took place on the evening of 1 a.m. PT in the early hours of January 24.’’
‘’The investigation shows he traveled nationwide to promote and perform a musical act,’’ the LA Police spokesman said.
Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore said Smollett was also charged with 16 counts of disorderly conduct in relation to the incident and was released without bail.
Smollett’s attorney, Patricia Brown Holmes, confirmed the charges in a statement to HuffPost on Friday night.
After Smollett was released the police department said Smollett “continues to cooperate with authorities.”
He told authorities that he believed his attackers were White and that they were angry because he’d been whistling on his phone behind them during their attack.
Smollett claimed he was attacked by two masked men whom he said held a knife to his throat and poured bleach on him. He said he was then violently assaulted and that he was forced to perform a ” hate crime ” against himself, according to the police.
“He says he believes the individuals who attacked him, beat him and held a chemical substance to his head were motivated by his vocal support of
