Warrant issued for Philadelphia suspect in Chucky-mask incidents

Police have identified and issued an arrest warrant for the man accused of terrorizing pedestrians in Philadelphia’s Center City while wearing a Chucky-style Halloween mask last week. Zymire Hughes, 22, is wanted for confronting at least six people near City Hall on August 12, 2026, in a series of frightening encounters that prompted an intensive search with federal assistance.

The incidents occurred in the early morning hours of Wednesday, August 12. According to Philadelphia Police Captain Jason Smith, surveillance footage shows a man dressed in black clothing and a distinctive Chucky doll mask approaching people starting at approximately 5:18 a.m. near 15th and Chestnut Streets. Over a period of about 20 minutes, the suspect was seen running up to individuals, apparently attempting to scare or antagonize them while holding a cellphone, which investigators believe he used to film the interactions.

The most serious encounter involved a 40-year-old female jogger near 15th Street and John F. Kennedy Boulevard at 5:33 a.m. Police state Hughes approached the woman, held his phone toward her, and repeatedly asked, “Are you ready to die?” The woman screamed for help and fled,...