A man accused of frightening and threatening people in downtown Philadelphia last week while wearing a disturbing Chucky-style mask may now be in the Los Angeles area, according to law enforcement officials.
Zymire Hughes, 22, has significant work and personal connections to Los Angeles and could already be there, FOX Los Angeles reported.
Surveillance footage reportedly showed Hughes packing bags and leaving his apartment complex this week. Authorities said he often travels between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, prompting investigators to focus on that region as they search for him.
The masked suspect has been identified as 22-year-old Zymire Hughes, and police say an active arrest warrant has been issued. (Philadelphia Police Department)
Investigators, however, have not confirmed Hughes’ current location. He is wanted by both the Philadelphia Police Department and the U.S. Marshals Service.
Law enforcement agencies in Southern California and Nevada have been watching transportation hubs and checking reports of possible sightings.
Philadelphia police identified Hughes on Thursday as the masked suspect who allegedly approached, chased and threatened multiple people in the early hours of Aug. 12 while recording the bizarre encounters on a cellphone.
Hughes was on probation at the time and now faces felony and misdemeanor assault charges tied to last week’s incident.
A side-by-side image released by police shows a suspect wearing a “Chucky-style” mask and surveillance footage of him allegedly pursuing a victim near Philadelphia’s City Hall. (Philadelphia Police Department)
In one incident, Hughes allegedly asked a 40-year-old female jogger: “Are you ready to die?” while holding his hand behind his back, prompting her to flee. She sustained a leg injury that will require extensive treatment, police said.
“Zymire Hughes was trying to scare people, make them run. Who’s scared now? Who’s running now?” Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner said during a news conference Thursday.
“He’s a punk. I mean, that’s the bottom line. He’s a punk who scared a lot of people for no good reason, and we’re not going to tolerate it.”
Investigators said they believe Hughes may have been trying to create social media content in an effort to monetize it.
“There wasn’t an attempt by himself to lay hands on anyone,” Philadelphia Police Capt. Jason Smith said Thursday.
“He didn’t brandish any weapon, although, in the case of the jogger, he did have his right arm behind his back, implying that he had a weapon. But at no point in time did he furnish a weapon.”
