PHILADELPHIA — Investigators believe the suspect is between 16 and 20 years old and described him as a black male with a thin build, approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall. The suspect wore all dark clothing and a white baby doll style Halloween mask with black hair, along with a black and blue plaid backpack.

The harassment campaign unfolded during a nearly 20-minute period starting around 5:18 a.m. last Wednesday in the Center City area. The threats started at 5:18 a.m. at the intersection of 15th and Chestnut streets. Just after 5:20 a.m. the suspect entered a Dunkin' Donuts store but was refused service for being erratic. He exited the shop and was seen on camera running toward people at the southwest corner of Penn Square at City Hall at 5:25 a.m. At 5:28 a.m. the suspect walked northbound on 15th Street, crossed the street, and stopped at 15th and Market streets on the sidewalk in front of Dilworth Plaza.

A 40-year-old female jogger was chased by the masked offender near 1500 John F. Kennedy Boulevard at about 5:30 a.m. on Wednesday. The offender held a phone in front of the jogger and repeatedly asked, "Are you ready to die?" Philadelphia Police Captain Jason Smith said the suspect made threatening comments while holding his hand behind his back, causing the woman to stumble and injure herself. "He was holding his cellphone in front of her, at which point he asked her, 'Are you ready to die?'" Smith said. "The female is screaming for help this entire time." The victim ran away screaming for help and injured her leg.

At 5:33 a.m. the suspect began chasing a woman jogging on the east side of 15th Street. Jameka warned the jogger by waving and saying, "Hey there’s someone behind you, look behind you." She then kicked the suspect in the chest. Jameka demonstrated how she kicked the suspect in the chest and said he ran away after the contact.

Kate Egan works in the area near 15th and Market streets and stated the suspect terrorized one of her coworkers at a coffee shop that same morning. A security guard intervened when the suspect harassed the coworker at the coffee shop. Both victims from the coffee shop incident escaped unharmed.

"It's really unsettling just trying to get to work and have a kid like this actively terrorizing women," Egan said. A security guard shared a photo of the suspect near City Hall.

The suspect uttered something to a man wearing a reflective vest before chasing him on the west side of 15th Street. After the threats, the suspect fled to Suburban Station. The suspect went on the escalators at Suburban Station at 5:35 a.m. Surveillance video captured the suspect wearing a doll mask, and police shared photos of the suspect without the doll mask, showing him wearing a surgical mask and holding the doll mask.

Police are investigating reports of a masked suspect who chased a jogger near City Hall and harassed a coworker at a coffee shop last Wednesday morning. Witnesses reported the suspect chasing and harassing people near Philadelphia City Hall during early morning hours. So far, only one person who was threatened has come forward.

Police are only aware of the Wednesday morning incident but urged other victims to come forward. "During that time span, he was able to accost a good many people, most of which haven't come forward yet," he said.

The suspect is facing charges including terroristic threats, simple assault, harassment, intimidation and reckless endangerment. The suspect will face a weapons charge because his right arm was behind his back when he issued the threat, despite no weapon being visible on video. Police said the suspect allegedly implied he had a weapon, although no weapon was seen.

As far as police know, the man was not armed. There had been no arrests as of Tuesday morning.

Police are scouring social media for material posted by the suspect. It is unclear if the encounters are part of a social media trend, and police are investigating whether the incidents were an online prank. The suspect appeared to be filming the incidents while holding a cellphone with its light on. The suspect held a cellphone in his left hand and appeared to film the interactions.

Police warned the public not to approach the suspect and to contact 911 immediately if seen. Anyone with information is asked to contact Philadelphia police by calling 215-686-TIPS (8477). Police are concerned about potential copycats and warned people not to imitate the behavior.

"Trust me when I tell you this we’re not going to do our darnedest to try and locate this individual? You bet we are," he said.

The incidents prompted people, mostly women, to seek advice from self-defense expert Jamie Miller. Miller recommends remaining aware of surroundings and doing whatever it takes to get to safety if confronted. Miller is partnering with the police district that covers Center City to offer a free self-defense class.

Timeline

On August 12, 2026, Luanda Marinho encountered the masked man at 12th and Chestnut streets. On the same date, the Philadelphia Police Department began searching for a suspect who threatened and chased at least six people near City Hall. Marinho said, "He starts asking, 'Do you guys want to race me? I bet I am faster than you. Want to race me?' He asked a few times, but none of us acknowledged him. Very weird." She added, "It was just weird, like some twisted game." Police Captain Jason he stated, "He was holding his cellphone in front of her, at which point he asked her, 'Are you ready to die?'" and noted, "The female is screaming for help this entire time." The suspect also chased a man on the west side of 15th Street, and witnesses reported the suspect chasing and harassing people near Philadelphia City Hall during early morning hours.

What's New

Philadelphia Police Department Capt. he said the suspect is facing charges that include terroristic threats, simple assault and other offenses. Kate Egan said, "He’s wearing all black with a mask, a scary mask, so you can’t see any of his identifying features. He just comes up and terrorizes people." he added, "During that time span, he was able to accost a good many people, most of which haven't come forward yet." Luanda Marinho encountered the masked man at 12th and Chestnut streets.

Emmelle Berger said she had previously seen a masked man in the subway. Berger said, "All the time, especially in the subway, I just saw a man who looked like Blade and was trying to be intimidating, but it wasn’t really intimidating, so I don’t know if this is the thing that’s going on. Hopefully not." Police Captain Jason he stated, "He was holding his cellphone in front of her, at which point he asked her, 'Are you ready to die?'" and said, "The female is screaming for help this entire time."

Why It Matters

The Philadelphia Police Department is searching for a suspect who threatened and chased at least six people near City Hall, an agency responsible for law enforcement and investigations within the County and City of Philadelphia. The suspect targeted six people at random within a 15-minute window early Wednesday morning, prompting police to release photos and video to seek public assistance in identifying him. Police are concerned about potential copycats and warned people not to imitate the behavior, while also investigating whether the incidents were an online prank.