Man in Chucky doll mask identified as Zymire Hughes
Reported by:
Cherry Meigh Timbol
News Content Editor
Published August 23, 2026
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. — Philadelphia police have identified the man accused of terrifying pedestrians in Center City while wearing a Chucky-style Halloween mask, launching a multi-state manhunt after authorities said he may have fled Pennsylvania.
Investigators named 22-year-old Zymire Hughes as the suspect behind a series of disturbing encounters that unfolded during the early morning hours of August 12, when multiple people were allegedly chased, harassed, and threatened near City Hall. An active arrest warrant has been issued as police work alongside the U.S. Marshals Service to locate him.
IMAGE: Police are searching for this masked suspect who chased a jogger last Wednesday near City Hall in Philadelphia.
Victims say the attacks felt terrifying
According to police, Hughes allegedly targeted at least a dozen pedestrians over a span of roughly 20 to 30 minutes while wearing the doll mask and carrying a cellphone, which investigators believe he used to record the encounters for possible social media content.
In the most alarming incident, a 40-year-old female jogger was chased near John F. Kennedy Boulevard after the masked man allegedly asked, “Are you ready to die?” The woman fled in panic, fell while escaping, and suffered a serious leg injury.
Another woman later told local media she confronted the suspect after warning another pedestrian, eventually kicking him in the chest before he ran away.
Police believe social media was the motive
Philadelphia Police Captain Jason Smith said investigators believe the suspect’s actions were likely driven by a desire for online attention rather than random violence. Authorities say Hughes appeared to be filming several of the frightening encounters on his phone, raising concerns that the incidents were staged for viral content.
District Attorney Larry Krasner condemned the alleged behavior during a news conference, warning that frightening innocent people for internet fame could carry serious criminal consequences.
Suspect may have fled the state
Police say Hughes has known ties to California and Nevada, and investigators believe he left Pennsylvania shortly after the incidents. The U.S. Marshals Service has joined the search as authorities urge anyone with information about his whereabouts to come forward rather than approach him directly.
Hughes is expected to face multiple charges, including terroristic threats, aggravated assault, harassment, reckless endangerment, and related offenses stemming from the alleged attacks.
Public safety concerns grow
The viral surveillance videos have sparked widespread concern among Philadelphia residents, particularly runners and early-morning commuters who frequent the City Hall area. What began as a bizarre masked prank has evolved into a serious criminal investigation involving injured victims and alleged death threats.
🧩 Bottom Line:
Authorities say this was never harmless Halloween-style mischief. By allegedly chasing strangers, issuing terrifying threats, and recording their fear for potential online clout, the suspect turned a public street into a scene of panic. Police now hope the viral attention that fueled the case will help bring him into custody
SOURCES: THE GATEWAY PUNDIT – Man in Creepy ‘Chucky’ Doll Mask Accused of Terrorizing and Threatening to Kill Women Unmasked and Identified (VIDEO)
ABC 6 ACTION NEWS – Masked man accused of terrorizing people in Center City Philadelphia identified: Police
