A Philadelphia woman says her art school training helped her react in a startling real-life encounter after a man wearing a doll mask chased her through city streets.
Jameka Wilson, a 25-year-old actress based in Philadelphia, said she was heading to an early morning workout class on Wednesday, Aug. 12, when a man in what police described as a “Chucky” Halloween mask began chasing her. After running for “a few seconds,” Wilson said she realized her best option was to stop, turn around and fight back.
“He seemed surprised that I had turned around initially,” Wilson said in an interview with News Outlet. “I saw his head like tilt from side to side, like trying to figure out what he’s supposed to be doing in the scenario.”
“Essentially what he did in defense terms was that he opened up all of the lines of attack that I could possibly make to him,” she said.
Philadelphia actress Jameka Wilson credits stage combat training with helping her defend herself against a man wearing a “Chucky” mask. (Philadelphia Police Department)
In that moment, Wilson said, she struck back by kicking the man “boom, right into the center of the chest.”
Wilson said her ability to assess the threat and defend herself came from her background in stage combat, a skill she learned during her arts education.
“My alma mater was the University of the Arts, and I trained with fight masters there for stage combat,” said Wilson. “The whole goal is to understand what the consequences of contact and violence are and hopefully keep your scene partner safe.”
“I feel like these experiences helped me fight off the attacker, as crazy as that might sound,” she said.
A masked man wanted for allegedly chasing and threatening people near Philadelphia’s City Hall is seen on surveillance video wearing a cracked baby doll Halloween mask. (Philadelphia Police Department)
RELATED: Pancreatic Cancer Breakthrough Reveals Everyday Lifestyle Risk
Wilson said she first saw the masked man as he approached another woman across the street who was “absorbed” in her phone. She described seeing the man accelerate toward the woman, “closing distance really quickly.”
“I started to wave my arms and started yelling, ‘Hey, there’s someone behind you,'” Wilson told News Outlet. “And at that point she heard me, she saw me, and then she started to run away.”
The masked man eventually turned his focus toward Wilson, chasing her until she turned around to fight.
“As for intent, I’m not really sure what exactly it was. I don’t know if he even knows,” Wilson said.
Philadelphia police say the suspect wore a “white baby doll style Halloween mask with black hair” and carried a black-and-blue plaid backpack during the incidents. (Philadelphia Police Department)
Police have identified 22-year-old Zymire Hughes as the masked suspect. An arrest warrant is active, and police believe Hughes may have fled Pennsylvania.
Hughes was also seen that morning near City Hall and asked one woman if she was “ready to die” while chasing others, police told FOX 29. Police said the masked man chased a 40-year-old woman and made threatening comments while holding his hand behind his back.
Philadelphia Police Capt. Jason Smith said, “He was able to accost a good many of people, most of which haven’t come forward yet.”
Hughes was seen on surveillance cameras running up to several people, and was refused service at a Dunkin’ because of his mask. He left the restaurant after showing erratic behavior.
