Crime
New Orleans jail inmate Khalil Bryan released by mistake
NEW ORLEANS — The Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that 30-year-old inmate Khalil Bryan was mistakenly released from custody due to a clerical error, according to Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick.
The erroneous release occurred as a result of a misidentification involving two individuals with similar last names, officials said.
Bryan was not scheduled for release at the time, and his accidental discharge has now prompted an internal investigation.
In a formal statement, Orleans Parish Sheriff Susan Hutson accepted full responsibility for the incident, stating:
“The Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office takes full responsibility for the clerical error that led to the mistaken release of Khalil Bryan, and we offer our sincere apology to the public, our law enforcement partners, and the court. This incident was the result of human error: a misidentification based on a shared last name between two individuals. We are currently conducting a full internal investigation, and I can confirm that disciplinary actions will occur.”
Sheriff Hutson further noted that Mr. Bryan is facing a combination of violent and non-violent charges, and that law enforcement agencies are working diligently to locate and apprehend him.
She confirmed that victims associated with Bryan’s criminal charges have been notified, and emphasized that new safeguards are being implemented to prevent future errors of this nature.
Bryan was previously held on charges including:
- Illegal possession of stolen property
- Possession of drug paraphernalia
- Resisting an officer
- Aggravated assault with a firearm
- Domestic abuse child endangerment
- Home invasion
Additionally, Bryan was being detained on a separate warrant issued by Jefferson Parish.
The New Orleans Police Department, Louisiana Attorney General’s Office, and the presiding judge in the case have all been notified of the mistaken release.
Efforts to locate and return Bryan to custody are actively ongoing.
Superintendent Kirkpatrick is expected to hold a press conference addressing the incident and outlining corrective actions being taken by the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office.
This incident follows a troubling pattern at the facility. On May 16, ten inmates escaped from the Orleans Parish Jail.
All but one, Derrick Groves, have since been recaptured.
Further updates on Bryan’s recapture and the internal investigation will be provided as they become available.
Authorities have identified the man shot and killed Friday afternoon in a parking lot outside a Little Caesars restaurant in Chicago’s Little Village neighborhood.
The victim has been named as Stevens Jeffrey, 29, according to police and the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office.
The shooting occurred in the 2600 block of West Cermak Road near Rockwell Street at approximately 1:10 p.m., according to the Chicago Police Department (CPD).
Preliminary reports indicate that Jeffrey was sitting in his vehicle when he was approached by an unknown vehicle.
An armed individual exited that vehicle and opened fire, striking Jeffrey multiple times in the face and body.
Emergency responders arrived on the scene, where Jeffrey was pronounced dead. He was discovered inside his vehicle with his two young children, ages 4 and 6, who were unharmed.
Both children were transported to Stroger Hospital for precautionary evaluation.
The shooting took place in the parking lot of a Little Caesars restaurant, where investigators recovered multiple shell casings and placed numerous evidence markers on the ground.
As of Friday evening, no suspects are in custody, and detectives from the CPD Area Four Homicide Unit are leading the investigation. Police have not released information on a possible motive.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about this homicide to contact Chicago Police or submit an anonymous tip at CPDTip.com.