Investigators are trying to identify a man who terrorized passersby while wearing a “Chucky”-style Halloween mask last week in Center City.
The suspect ran up to a 40-year-old jogger outside City Hall and twice asked her if she was “ready to die,” Police Captain Jason Smith of the Central Detective Division told reporters during a news conference Monday afternoon.
Smith said the masked male approached at least five other individuals over a period of about 15 minutes before disappearing just after 5:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12, down into SEPTA’s underground concourse connecting 15th Street/City Hall and Suburban stations.
Surveillance footage released Tuesday shows the suspect chasing a jogger around Dilworth Park before crossing the street.
During the encounters, the man held up his phone, and the screen was lit, a sign he was filming, Smith said. Detectives, he added, are searching through social media to see if any videos have been posted.
As of Monday afternoon, police have only spoken to the 40-year-old victim, Smith said. She injured her leg as she began running away, he said.
While the offender did not pull out a weapon or appear to touch anyone, he did place one of his hands behind his back, acting as if he had a gun or a knife, according to law enforcement officials.
Smith said the individual is set to be charged with making terroristic threats, harassment, simple assault, reckless endangerment, intimidation and a weapons offense.
Police described him as a 5-foot-8 Black male between 16 and 20 years old with a medium complexion and thin build. In addition to the mask, he was wearing a black and blue plaid backpack.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Central Detectives at 215-686-3047/3048 or call or text the police tip line at 215-686-TIPS (8477).
