Philadelphia Chucky Mask Threat Suspect Arrested in Las Vegas

Suspect accused of threatening at least six people near City Hall

PHILADELPHIA — A 22-year-old man accused of chasing and threatening pedestrians while wearing a Chucky-style mask near Philadelphia City Hall on Aug. 12 was arrested Tuesday night at an apartment complex in southeast Las Vegas, federal authorities said.

Zymire Hughes was taken into custody at about 8 p.m. and is being held at the Clark County Detention Center while he awaits extradition to Philadelphia, according to the U.S. Marshals Service. Hughes faces charges including aggravated assault, terroristic threats and related offenses.

The arrest ends a multistate search following a series of alleged confrontations in Center City that unfolded over roughly 15 minutes during the early morning hours of Aug. 12. Philadelphia police said at least six people were targeted around City Hall, with one woman injured while fleeing after an alleged threat.

Threats began near 15th and Chestnut streets

Investigators said the encounters began at approximately 5:18 a.m. near 15th and Chestnut streets. Hughes, who was wearing a mask styled after the horror-film character Chucky, allegedly ran toward several people in an effort to frighten and antagonize them, police said.

About two minutes later, Hughes entered a Dunkin' on the 1500 block of Chestnut Street but was refused service because he was wearing the mask, according to police. He then left the store and was later captured on surveillance video running toward pedestrians at the southwest corner of Penn Square near City Hall at about 5:25 a.m.

Police said Hughes allegedly chased a man along the west side of 15th Street before approaching a woman who was jogging near 15th and Market streets. He allegedly stopped in front of her and asked, “Are you ready to die?” The woman ran away and injured her leg, authorities said.

Hughes was believed to have carried a cellphone with its light activated and appeared to be filming the confrontations, Philadelphia Police Capt. Jason Smith previously said. Investigators said he fled into Suburban Station after the alleged threats.

Authorities tracked travel through Florida

U.S. Marshals said Hughes had lived in Las Vegas since February but has family connections in Philadelphia and was believed to have spent several weeks in the city before the incidents. Authorities said he left the Philadelphia area on Aug. 19, flying from Trenton-Mercer Airport in Ewing, New Jersey, to Orlando, Florida, before taking another flight to Las Vegas.

Robert Clark, supervisory deputy U.S. marshal for the Eastern Pennsylvania Violent Crime Fugitive Task Force, said the arrest showed that disguises would not prevent investigators from identifying and locating a suspect.

“By hiding behind a Chucky-style Halloween mask, Hughes terrorized Philadelphia residents and believed he could evade law enforcement,” Clark said. “He was wrong.”

The case drew attention because the alleged threats occurred in one of Philadelphia’s busiest downtown areas, near major transit connections, offices and public landmarks. The Philadelphia Police Department continues to handle the underlying investigation as Hughes remains jailed in Nevada pending extradition proceedings.