Residents of Center City Philadelphia are on edge this week after a string of frightening, unprovoked attacks carried out by a man wearing a disturbing creepy doll mask, law enforcement officials confirmed Tuesday. The Philadelphia Police Department has launched a public appeal for assistance to track down the suspect, who is accused of threatening and chasing at least six separate victims in the area surrounding City Hall over the past week.
One of the most alarming incidents unfolded on the morning of August 12, at approximately 5:30 a.m. local time. Surveillance camera footage from the area captured the masked suspect chasing a woman who was out for her regular morning run. According to police accounts, the man kept one hand hidden behind his back while shouting menacing remarks at his target, causing the woman to trip during her escape and suffer injuries. Immediately after the attack, the suspect fled into a nearby SEPTA underground rail station, disappearing before responding officers arrived on scene.
In another high-profile encounter documented by witnesses, runner Luanda Marinho told CBS News—BBC’s U.S. media partner—that she and a friend came across the masked man while meeting for a morning workout. Marinho recalled that the suspect repeatedly pestered the pair to challenge him to a race, saying “Do you guys want to race me? I bet I am faster than you. Want to race?” When the two women ignored his advances, he did not press further, but the interaction left them deeply unsettled. Marinho noted that she and her friend are now planning to alter their regular running route to avoid the area, describing the encounter as “some twisted game” that felt deeply off-putting and dangerous.
Philadelphia Police Department Captain Jason Smith told reporters that the suspect appears to be recording each of his encounters, as he has repeatedly been spotted holding a cellphone with its flashlight activated during the attacks. Investigators have not yet ruled out the possibility that the incidents are linked to a dangerous new social media prank trend that has spread across other U.S. cities in recent months, Smith added, but no definitive connection has been confirmed at this stage.
To aid in the public manhunt, police have released surveillance photos and a short clip of the suspect captured during the attacks, urging anyone who recognizes the man or has information about his current whereabouts to contact law enforcement immediately. If apprehended, the suspect will face multiple criminal charges including terroristic threats, simple assault, and other related offenses, according to police. Local residents have been advised to stay alert in the City Hall area, especially during early morning hours when most of the incidents have occurred.