Chucky-mask suspect arrested in Las Vegas after Philadelphia harassment spree
Zymire Hughes, seen harassing pedestrians in Philadelphia while wearing a horror-film mask, was arrested in Las Vegas by the U.S. Marshals Service.
Chucky-mask man nabbed in Las Vegas after Philadelphia attacks
Google News MT — Crime (en) reports that Zymire Hughes, the man alleged to have prowled Philadelphia's Center City wearing a Chucky-style horror mask and harassing passers-by, was arrested in Las Vegas on Tuesday by members of the U.S. Marshals Service Violent Offender Task Force.
The arrest follows incidents that took place early last Wednesday, when a masked man chased a jogger in Center City, asked her "Do you want to die?" and caused her to suffer injuries as she fled. Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner said the warrant covers felony and misdemeanor assault charges, with further charges expected to be outlined now that a suspect is in custody.
Police allege Hughes approached more than a dozen people in Center City before fleeing following his encounter with the jogger. He fled a second time after regional transit police at a train station told him to remove his mask. Investigators then traced his movements through security camera footage, which led them to an apartment building where, authorities say, Hughes lives. Three witnesses separately identified him as the masked suspect at a police news conference last week.
Hughes is now held at the Clark County Detention Center in Nevada with no bail. A hearing before a judge is scheduled for Thursday morning. It remains unclear whether he has legal representation; public defender offices in both Clark County and Philadelphia did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Philadelphia Police Captain Jason Smith said investigators were tipped off that Hughes had packed his bags and left his apartment in the days following the Center City incidents. Krasner noted that Hughes is on probation for an unspecified offence in neighbouring Montgomery County.
Smith said Hughes operates two TikTok accounts and one Instagram account. Krasner stated that Hughes wore the mask specifically to drive traffic to his online profiles. "We're not having it in this city," Krasner said. "We are not tolerating it."
The mask resembles the killer doll from the Child's Play horror film franchise. Police believe Hughes may have acted in this manner on previous occasions and have asked any additional potential victims to come forward.
Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)