Philadelphia police are searching for a man who wore a Chucky doll mask while chasing a 40-year-old woman during her early morning jog last Wednesday. The incident occurred around 5:30 a.m. near City Hall.
Video footage released by the Philadelphia Police Department shows the masked suspect running behind the woman as she crossed an intersection. When the jogger turned around, apparently attempting to evade him, the suspect altered his path to continue the pursuit. A second camera captured the suspect trailing the woman as she ran down a multi-lane road. The suspect reportedly could not catch up and changed his route, diverting to a sidewalk on the right side of the street while the jogger continued down the road.
The suspect is described as a Black male, approximately 5'8" tall, and believed to be between 16 and 20 years old. Police stated that the individual has allegedly terrorized multiple people in the community, sometimes laughing at victims and asking if they are 'ready to die.'
Another individual, who identified herself only as Jameka and declined to share her last name, told WPVI that the suspect approached her with his phone in hand shortly after chasing another woman. Jameka stated she saw the suspect behind another woman and warned her. After the first woman began to run, the suspect reportedly attempted to enter a local coffee shop but was denied entry. He then turned his attention toward Jameka.
Jameka recalled screaming "don't follow me" and adopting a defensive stance. She described the suspect as appearing "disoriented" and said he ran away after she kicked him. She also believes the suspect may have been filming these encounters with his cell phone.
Investigators have released several images of the suspect. Photos show him wearing the Chucky mask and a blue plaid backpack. Another released photo, taken without the mask, shows his face largely obscured by a balaclava.
Police indicated that the suspect will face serious charges once apprehended. Anyone with information regarding his identity or whereabouts is encouraged to contact the Philadelphia Police Department at 215-686-8477.