Police identify person of interest in shooting threat at 'Surviving R. Kelly' screening
The latest clue to the suspect involved in the shooting threat at the "Surviving R. Kelly" screening has been revealed and seems to suggest ties with Kelly himself.
A new development has emerged in relation to the shooting threat that disrupted the screening of the documentary “Surviving R. Kelly” last week. Police have identified the location from which the person of interest made the threatening call.
A screening of an upcoming documentary detailing abuse allegations against singer R. Kelly was evacuated after phone threats made. https://t.co/SY9uWuUKUK pic.twitter.com/eGl8vCIzre
— FOX 28 Columbus (@fox28columbus) December 5, 2018
A HALTED SCREENING
On Tuesday, the audience at the NeueHouse in New York was evacuated 20 minutes into screening the controversial Lifetime docuseries after an unidentified man called in a threat. He claimed there was a gunman in the theater who was going to open fire if the screening went on.
‘Surviving R.Kelly’ documentary premiere shut down after gun threat https://t.co/yG8o9GoF45 pic.twitter.com/3wpFNtZsLT
— NME (@NME) December 5, 2018
A CURIOUS CLUE ABOUT THE CALLER
As of December 8, investigators have revealed the call came from a 773 area code in Chicago, interestingly the hometown of R. Kelly. The identity of the caller was not disclosed and no clear connection has been made to the singer.
Is Anyone Surprised? Cops Track Person of Interest in 'Surviving R. Kelly' Premiere Threat, the Call Came From Chicago https://t.co/ZYqThZo2Oz via @lovebscott
— B. Scott (@lovebscott) December 8, 2018
THE CONTROVERSIAL DOCUMENTARY
“Surviving R. Kelly” centers around the alleged sexual abuses and legal troubles that hounded the singer over the years. It includes interviews with his associates and women who claimed to be his victims. Among the accusations against him were cases of physical and sexual abuse of multiple women and grooming them to be part of a sex cult. Some of the women who spoke on the film were at the screening and were going to participate in a Q&A after.
Police Trace R. Kelly Shooting Threat Call To His Hometown https://t.co/Is8yYnT38G pic.twitter.com/RUClOQ9Me8
— ThatGrapeJuice (Sam) (@thatgrapejuice) December 8, 2018
LINKING THE THREAT TO KELLY
Among the women victims who were present at the screening was Kelly’s ex-wife, Andrea Kelly who believes her former spouse was somehow involved in the shooting threat. She told Variety,
“I can’t speak to what he would or would not do because I don’t know what his mindset is right now. But I would say that I don’t believe in happenstance, I don’t believe that anything is a coincidence. I do believe that in some shape, form or fashion it is connected to him.”
She continues,
“Now, whether he orchestrated it or not, that I cannot say. But I just do not believe in coincidences. Of all the theaters, of all the nights, of all the premiers, it happened with us.”
Andrea Kelly believes R. Kelly is behind gun threats at documentary screeninghttps://t.co/M1ZMzhBJ7J pic.twitter.com/HDBqzDlCAc
— Vibe Magazine (@VibeMagazine) December 6, 2018
A BLESSING IN DISGUISE
Regardless, Andrea is convinced the film is on the “right track” and the threat just drew more attention to it and what it stands for.
“We’re causing people to listen. We’re getting people’s attention and we’re getting attention from the one who thought that he was invincible and untouchable. And that also applies to the people that work for him and the people that are around him.”
R. Kelly's ex-wife Drea says a gun threat at a screening for the upcoming docuseries 'Surviving R. Kelly' "just puts gasoline on a fire" https://t.co/PKgVMTo6IK pic.twitter.com/Y9S0CyvY7h
— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) December 5, 2018
ANDREA OPENS UP ABOUT HER TROUBLED MARRIAGE TO KELLY
Andrea was married to the troubled singer from 1996 to 2009. Towards the end of their marriage, she came to the realization that she was a victim of domestic violence so she left him. Among the abuses, she recalled almost being killed in the back seat of a Hummer.
A CAREER ON INDEFINITE HOLD
R. Kelly’s career was greatly affected by the allegations against him. Streaming sites like Spotify, Apple Music and Pandora have banned his music as of May this year. The “Time’s Up Women of Color” movement also encouraged a boycott of anything related to him.
