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Philly Chucky mask suspect may be headed to LA
Philadelphia police have identified 22-year-old Zymire Hughes as the masked suspect accused of harassing and assaulting residents on Aug. 12. Investigators warn he may have fled the state and has ties to the LA area.
LOS ANGELES - A nationwide manhunt is underway for a 22-year-old suspect accused of terrorizing people in Philadelphia while wearing a "Chucky-style" Halloween mask.
Law enforcement officials warned that the suspect has deep work and personal ties to Los Angeles and may already be present in the local area.
What we know:
Philadelphia police identified the suspect as Zymire Hughes, who is currently on probation and now faces felony and misdemeanor assault charges.
Investigators state that on August 12, Hughes approached, chased, and startled at least 15 to 16 individuals in downtown Philadelphia while wearing a horror mask and filming the encounters on his cell phone.
In one incident, he repeatedly asked a 40-year-old female jogger, "are you ready to die?" while holding his hand behind his back, causing her to flee and suffer a severe leg injury requiring extensive medical treatment.
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Surveillance video captured Hughes packing his bags and exiting his apartment complex two nights ago, and police confirmed he frequently travels back and forth to Los Angeles and Las Vegas, leading officials to believe he may already be in the region.
What we don't know:
Authorities have not determined Hughes' precise whereabouts within the region or confirmed his exact mode of transportation as he avoids an active arrest warrant.
It remains unclear how many total victims were targeted, as investigators believe several people captured on camera have yet to file official police reports.
What they're saying:
"Zymire Hughes was trying to scare people, make them run. Who's scared now? Who's running now?" said Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner. "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."
"Underneath that Chucky-style Halloween mask, he’s got a black Covid-style mask underneath of that, which he never removes," stated Philadelphia Police Captain Jason Smith. "I think he filmed this for social media content, either A, for his own sick personal amusement or B, he had plans of posting it online at some point and possibly monetizing it."
What's next:
Law enforcement agencies in Southern California and Nevada are actively monitoring transportation hubs and following up on potential local sightings.
Authorities urge anyone in the Los Angeles area who spots Hughes to contact 911 immediately, while additional Philadelphia victims are encouraged to reach out to the Central Detective Division.
The Source: This report is based on information provided by the Philadelphia Police Department and District Attorney Larry Krasner. WTXF-TV contributed.