Masked suspect Zymire Hughes captured in Nevada after Philadelphia terror incident
Zymire Hughes, 22, was arrested in Nevada following a two-week hunt after he chased a woman in Philadelphia while wearing a Chucky mask.
A two-week manhunt ended on Tuesday when US Marshals arrested 22-year-old Zymire Hughes in a Nevada apartment after he allegedly terrorized a woman in Philadelphia on Aug. 12. Wearing a Chucky-style mask, Hughes chased the 40-year-old jogger, demanding she confirm she was ready to die, and the victim was injured while escaping. After being ordered to remove the mask by SEPTA officers, he evaded capture, traveled to Trenton, New Jersey, and then flew to Florida before returning to Las Vegas, where he was apprehended.
He is slated for extradition to Pennsylvania on counts of assault and making terroristic threats. The Philadelphia district attorney noted Hughes' earlier offenses, including a 2019 badge-theft that led to a diversion program from which he was later removed. Deputy US Marshal Robert Clark said Hughes attempted to escape handcuffs and had to be subdued, emphasizing that the arrest sends a message to those who think a mask can shield them from law enforcement.
Why it matters
The arrest shows law enforcement can track and capture suspects who use disguises to intimidate the public.
In this story
