U.S. Marshals Hunt 22-Year-Old Zymire Hughes After Aug. 12 Chucky Mask Rampage

Q: Why did a masked teen terrorize early morning Philadelphia commuters, and was the chilling chase all for a twisted viral video?

Police do not yet know why the masked teen targeted commuters, but investigators strongly suspect he was trying to scare people for his own recording or possible social-media content rather than commit a robbery or other conventional crime. According to Philadelphia police, the suspect spent about 15 to 20 minutes moving through Center City shortly after 5:18 a.m., approaching at least six people near 15th and Chestnut, Penn Square, Dilworth Plaza, JFK Boulevard and Suburban Station. He allegedly ran up to pedestrians, threatened them, asked one woman, “Are you ready to die?”, and appeared to hold a cellphone up during several encounters as if filming. Witnesses also described it as a “twisted game,” with one saying he asked people if they wanted to race him. That has led police to examine whether the incidents were linked to an online prank or viral-video attempt. Capt. Jason Smith said investigators were scouring social media for any posted footage, but as of the latest reports they had found no confirmed video and had not publicly established a motive. So the “viral video” theory remains plausible, not proven. What is clear is that the behavior went beyond a prank. A 40-year-old jogger fell and injured her leg while fleeing, and police said the suspect could face charges including terroristic threats, harassment, simple assault, reckless endangerment and intimidation. He was last seen entering Suburban Station, and no arrest had been announced as of Tuesday afternoon.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 20

Surveillance footage released Thursday shows Zymire Hughes leaving his apartment, riding a bus downtown and putting on a Chucky-style mask before allegedly terrorizing people near City Hall and Suburban Station.
Police said the 22-year-old filmed the encounters on his phone, threatened a jogger with "Are you ready to die?" and chased her until she injured her leg badly enough to need extensive medical treatment.
SEPTA officers spotted Hughes inside Suburban Station, ordered him to remove the mask and followed him after he covered his face with a black mask, but he evaded them and boarded a bus home.
Philadelphia police and the U.S. Marshals Service are now seeking Hughes on an active arrest warrant, with investigators saying the Aug. 12 spree may have been for personal amusement or monetized social media content.