A man accused of chasing and threatening people in Philadelphia while wearing a Chucky-style mask has been arrested in Las Vegas, more than 2,000 miles away. Zymire Hughes, 22, was detained by the US Marshals Service at an apartment complex in the Nevada city on Tuesday. He is being held at the Clark County Detention Center ahead of extradition to Pennsylvania.
Arrest ends fear in Philadelphia
‘Tonight, the fear that one man brought to the Philadelphia community comes to an end,’ Supervisory Deputy US Marshal Robert Clark said. ‘By hiding behind a Chucky-style Halloween mask, Hughes terrorised Philadelphia residents and believed he could evade law enforcement. He was wrong.’
Hughes is accused of approaching and harassing people across central Philadelphia in the early hours of August 12. Police believe he targeted around 15 or 16 people over more than half an hour while apparently filming the encounters on his phone.
Chucky mask and alleged threats
CCTV shows him wearing a baby doll-style Halloween mask resembling Chucky, the murderous toy from the Child’s Play horror franchise. He also wore a black face covering beneath it. The first known encounter happened shortly after 5am, when Hughes reportedly threatened a man seen crouching with his hands raised.
Investigators say he continued approaching people along Chestnut Street before entering a branch of Dunkin’ Donuts at around 5.20am. A worker reportedly refused to serve him because of his behaviour and the mask. Hughes then purportedly returned to the street and continued trying to frighten passers-by.
Chase caught on video
Minutes later, he was filmed chasing a man in a reflective vest near Dilworth Plaza, according to police. He’s then accused of turning his attention to a 40-year-old woman jogging nearby. Footage shows the masked man pursuing her with one hand behind his back and a phone held towards her.
‘Are you ready to die?’ Hughes allegedly asked repeatedly. The woman ran away screaming for help but fell down while trying to escape. Police said that she injured her leg, hamstring and spine and would require fairly extensive medical treatment.
Escape and capture
Hughes is then said to have entered Suburban Station, where two transport police officers ordered him to remove the doll mask. Investigators said he complied but kept the black covering underneath and managed to evade them.
Police later identified Hughes from the footage and secured a warrant accusing him of aggravated assault. He also faces allegations including terroristic threats, simple assault, reckless endangerment and possession of an instrument of crime.
Investigators said that Hughes had lived in Las Vegas since February but was visiting relatives in Philadelphia. He left the area on August 19, flying from Trenton, New Jersey, to Orlando before taking another flight to Las Vegas. Hughes initially returned to the home he shared with his girlfriend, authorities said. After his image appeared in news reports, he allegedly moved to another apartment complex in the southeast of the city and remained there lying low for about five days.
Members of the Nevada Violent Offender Task Force placed the complex under surveillance before taking Hughes into custody at around 8pm. Clark described the arrest as having taken place ‘without incident’. Officials subsequently said Hughes questioned why he was being handcuffed and attempted to slip out of the restraints. Deputies subdued him and Clark added: ‘He was not a happy man being brought into custody.’
DA’s response
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner had previously condemned the alleged behaviour and appealed for any other possible victims to come forward. He said authorities took seriously anyone who considered it ‘funny or entertaining to terrorize and harass individuals in any neighborhood’.
‘Regardless of his motive, his actions demonstrate that he is a punk and will not be tolerated,’ Krasner added. ‘He will be caught and held accountable for his crimes.’
