U.S. Marshals announced Tuesday evening that they arrested 22‑year‑old Zymire Hughes at an apartment complex on the 6500 block of Boulder Highway in southeast Las Vegas. Hughes, who had been living in Nevada since February, is accused of making threats, chasing and harassing at least 15 people in the early‑morning hours of August 12 near Philadelphia City Hall while wearing a Chucky‑style Halloween mask.
According to the Marshals Service, Hughes fled Philadelphia on August 19, first flying from Trenton‑Mercer Airport to Orlando, Florida, and then on to Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. Investigators tracked his movements during the five‑day period, monitoring his flights and his stay with a girlfriend before he changed locations after a blurred photo of him in handcuffs was released.
“He was not a happy man being brought into custody,” said Robert Clark, a supervisory deputy with the U.S. Marshals Service. Clark added that Hughes attempted to remove his handcuffs and had to be subdued by deputies.
Authorities said Hughes appeared confused when taken into custody. He is now being held at the Clark County Detention Center and will be extradited back to Philadelphia to face multiple charges, including aggravated assault, making terroristic threats and reckless endangerment.
Community response
One Philadelphia resident, Jameka, posted video of herself kicking Hughes in the chest during the encounter, quickly becoming an internet sensation for her direct response. Philadelphia officials had previously released a mug shot of Hughes with a warning that harassment would not be tolerated.
Investigation highlights
Clark praised the Marshals’ task force for their rapid work, noting that “you can hide your face but you can’t hide from the elite investigators of the U.S. Marshals Service.” He said the operation spanned the weekend and that the team was “extremely happy” to have the suspect in custody.
The case underscores the coordination between local law‑enforcement agencies and federal authorities in responding to threats against citizens, reinforcing the commitment to protect communities from intimidation and violence.
Original reporting: Allentown News – 6abc Philadelphia — read the source article.
