August 20, 2026
Philadelphia Police/YouTube
Philadelphia police have identified Zymire Hughes, 22, as the man who allegedly harassed people in Center City while wearing a Halloween mask last week.
The man who allegedly terrorized people in Center City while wearing a Halloween mask last week has been identified by police.
An arrest warrant has been issued for Zymire Hughes, 22, of Philadelphia, police said Thursday. Investigators believe he may have fled Pennsylvania, noting he has ties to California and Nevada. Philadelphia police are working with the U.S. Marshals Service to locate him.
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Earlier this week, police released surveillance footage that shows a man chasing a 40-year-old woman near 15th Street and JFK Boulevard at 5:30 a.m. on Aug. 12. The woman told investigators that the man approached her as she was running near City Hall and made threatening comments while holding a hand behind his back. She fell and injured her leg, and the man eventually fled to Suburban Station.
In the video, the man can be seen wearing a mask that resembles a Chucky doll, all black clothing and a blue and black plaid backpack. Additional footage shows him removing the Halloween mask and wearing a surgical mask after he went into Suburban Station.
Investigators said Thursday that Hughes was first seen the area approaching people in the mask just after 5:00 a.m. He allegedly then approached multiple people at 12th and Chestnut streets a few minutes later. Police said he attempted to harass approximately 15 people in total. He was holding up a cell phone and likely filming the incidents to later post on social media.
After entering the station, Hughes allegedly was seen removing his mask at the request of SEPTA police. He then exited the station and got on the Route 33 bus, and security footage showed he exited at 23rd and Venango streets. Police recovered video footage of him at a nearby apartment complex, where he was seen without the Halloween mask and the surgical mask, which is how they identified him.
Anyone with information about the incident or Hughes' whereabouts can call (215) 686-8477 or email the tip line for the police department. Investigators said anyone who spots Hughes should not approach him, and instead should call 911. He will face felony and misdemeanor charges for assault in the incident with the woman, who required extensive medical treatment, according to prosecutors.
