Police sources: Jussie Smollett rehearsed attack

CHICAGO (Fox 32 News) - The two brothers who were arrested, detained and questioned in the Jussie Smollett case told officers that not only was the attack staged, but that that they rehearsed it prior to the incident, sources tell Fox 32.

As we reported over the weekend, the two brothers also told detectives Smollett paid them as much as $3,500 to orchestrate the incident.

Fox 32 has obtained the itemized list of what exactly was taken from the brothers home as evidence. It includes a red hat, several containers of bleach, a receipt which police says was for the rope purchased and put around Smollett’s neck, and a magazine that was similar to the one that was used to cut out letters for the hate mail that was sent to Smollett prior to the reported attack.

Also regarding reports of Chicago PD sending the case to a grand jury, a police spokesman told Fox 32 that it's certainly possible, but way too premature. Investigators would only resort to that if Smollett refuses to come in voluntarily for questioning.

While Smollett’s lawyers released a statement saying they are cooperating with police, officers tell Fox 32 they’ve been given no indication the attorneys will bring in Smollett.

Smollett has also hired a Chicago-based crisis management team who told Fox 32 they do not plan to have Smollett talk to police right now. But that could change.