Christopher Hellenthal, 20, dressed in a Spider-Man costume, assisted a man in a wheelchair in crossing a busy multi-lane intersection in Jonesboro, Arkansas, on July 21, 2026 [1, 2]. The incident occurred on a hot day with temperatures exceeding 37°C at the time [1].
Hellenthal, who works at Ultimate Air Trampoline Park in Jonesboro, had just finished a superhero-themed day at work. He said, "That morning we had a superhero day and so I brought it for the toddlers and they had a blast" [2]. After work, he encountered the man needing help and said, "I told him, ‘Don’t worry, I’ve got you’. It happened really fast. I just kind of skedaddled out of there because the light turned green" [1]. The entire interaction took less than a minute, during which Hellenthal pushed the wheelchair across the intersection and then quickly left as the traffic light turned green [3, 1, 2].
Hellenthal does not know the man he helped and had bought the Spider-Man costume for about US$200 online earlier in 2026. He is a longtime Spider-Man fan who lives in Lake City, east of Jonesboro, and has worn the suit around town several times [1, 2]. A manager at Ultimate Air Trampoline Park recognized Hellenthal in the viral video and said helping others in costume is typical for him [2]. Hellenthal noted, "I would have done it with or without the suit" [2].
Traffic camera footage captured the moment, and the Jonesboro Police Department shared the video on social media, praising Hellenthal as a "true superhero". The department said, "Some people say cops are heroes, but even we need a little helping hand. Earlier today, a citizen needing a little assistance got it in the form of a true superhero" [1]. A police spokesperson added, "Not in my 7 years in the department have I witnessed this" [2].
Some internet users speculated the event was staged to promote the upcoming Spider-Man movie, but Hellenthal denied those claims on July 23, saying the incident was genuine and spontaneous [1]. The Jonesboro Police Department’s social media post and the viral video brought positive attention to the act.
The next step appears to be continued public appreciation, but no specific events related to the incident have been scheduled by the police or Hellenthal at this time.
