A 22-year-old man accused of frightening and threatening at least six people while wearing a Chucky-style mask near Philadelphia City Hall has been arrested in Las Vegas, authorities announced Tuesday.
Zymire Hughes was taken into custody around 8 p.m. in Las Vegas and is now being held at the Clark County Detention Center as he awaits extradition to Philadelphia, according to the U.S. Marshals Service.
Philadelphia police said Hughes is accused of chasing, intimidating and threatening multiple people in Center City on Aug. 12 during a series of incidents that unfolded over roughly 15 minutes. In one encounter, investigators said he asked a woman if she was “ready to die.”
The alleged threats began at about 5:18 a.m. near 15th and Chestnut streets, police said. Investigators alleged Hughes ran toward several pedestrians in an apparent attempt to scare and provoke them.
Roughly two minutes later, Hughes allegedly went into a Dunkin’ on the 1500 block of Chestnut Street, where employees refused to serve him because he was wearing the mask. Police said surveillance video later showed him running toward people near the southwest corner of Penn Square at City Hall around 5:25 a.m.
Philadelphia Police Department
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Authorities said Hughes then chased a man along the west side of 15th Street before approaching a woman who was jogging near 15th and Market streets. Police said he stopped in front of her and asked, “Are you ready to die?” The woman ran away and suffered a leg injury, investigators said.
After the series of alleged threats, Hughes fled toward Suburban Station, police said.
Philadelphia Police Capt. Jason Smith previously said Hughes appeared to have a cellphone with its light turned on and seemed to be recording the encounters.
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner said last week that Hughes is expected to face an aggravated assault charge in addition to other counts because one of the victims was hurt while trying to run away from him.
Krasner said last week that Hughes had ties to California and Nevada.
