A woman has received praise online after fighting back against a masked man who allegedly chased and threatened pedestrians in Philadelphia.
The incidents happened near City Hall during the early hours of August 12, 2026.
Police said a man wearing a Chucky-style Halloween mask approached several people within about 30 minutes. He allegedly recorded the encounters with his mobile phone.
One victim was a 40-year-old woman who was jogging near City Hall.
Investigators said the masked man chased her and repeatedly asked, “Are you ready to die?”
The frightened woman ran away while calling for help. She suffered a serious leg injury during her escape and may require extensive medical treatment.
Another woman, identified as Jameka Wilson, noticed the masked man following the jogger and tried to warn her.
The suspect later turned his attention towards Wilson and allegedly chased her.
Instead of continuing to run, Wilson turned around and prepared to defend herself. She checked whether the man appeared to have a weapon before kicking him in the chest.
The kick caused him to stumble backwards. He then ran away.
Wilson later said her training in stage combat helped her understand how to protect herself during the confrontation.
Philadelphia police identified the suspect as 22-year-old Zymire Hughes.
Investigators believe he may have been frightening people to create social media content. Police said surveillance footage showed him approaching more than a dozen people that morning.
Hughes reportedly left Philadelphia after the incidents. Authorities said he travelled through Orlando before heading west.
The U.S. Marshals Service arrested him at an apartment complex in Las Vegas at about 8 p.m. on August 25.
He is being held at the Clark County Detention Center while awaiting extradition to Pennsylvania.
Hughes is expected to face charges linked to terroristic threats, assault, harassment, intimidation and reckless endangerment. The allegations have not yet been proven in court.
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