Philadelphia woman says she used stage combat training to fight off masked man chasing residents

A Philadelphia woman's art school training came in handy in an unexpected way as she was chased through the streets of Philadelphia by a man wearing a doll mask.

Jameka Wilson, a 25-year-old Philadelphia-based actress, said a man in what police described as a "Chucky" Halloween mask chased her while she was on her way to an early morning workout class on Wednesday, Aug. 12. After the man chased her for "a few seconds," Wilson said, she decided that the wisest thing to do in the scenario was turn around and fight.

"He seemed surprised that I had turned around initially," Wilson said in an interview with Fox News Digital. "I saw his head like tilt from side to side, like trying to figure out what he's supposed to be doing in the scenario."

"Essentially what he did in defense terms was that he opened up all of the lines of attack that I could possibly make to him," she said.

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That's when Wilson decided to kick her attacker, "boom, right into the center of the chest."

Wilson credits her ability to defend herself and read her attacker to her art school education in stage combat.

"My alma mater was the University of the Arts, and I trained with fight masters there for stage combat," said Wilson. "The whole goal is to understand what the consequences of contact and violence are and hopefully keep your scene partner safe."

"I feel like these experiences helped me fight off the attacker, as crazy as that might sound," she said.

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Wilson said she first saw the masked man as he approached another woman across the street who was "absorbed" in her phone. She described seeing the man accelerate toward the woman, "closing distance really quickly."

"I started to wave my arms and started yelling, 'Hey, there's someone behind you,'" Wilson told Fox News Digital. "And at that point she heard me, she saw me, and then she started to run away."

The masked man eventually turned his focus toward Wilson, chasing her until she turned around to fight.

"As for intent, I'm not really sure what exactly it was. I don't know if he even knows," Wilson said.

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Police have identified 22-year-old Zymire Hughes as the masked suspect. An arrest warrant is active, and police believe Hughes may have fled Pennsylvania.

Hughes was also seen that morning near City Hall and asked one woman if she was "ready to die" while chasing others, police told FOX 29. Police said the masked man chased a 40-year-old woman and made threatening comments while holding his hand behind his back.

Philadelphia Police Capt. Jason Smith said, "He was able to accost a good many of people, most of which haven't come forward yet."

Hughes was seen on surveillance cameras running up to several people, and was refused service at a Dunkin' because of his mask. He left the restaurant after showing erratic behavior.