In a stunning breakdown of jailhouse protocol, a violent inmate with a rap sheet stretching back years was mistakenly released from the Orleans Justice Center — and now, a full-scale manhunt is underway across New Orleans.
Khalil Bryan, 30, was let out of jail Friday after deputies confused him with another inmate who shared a similar last name. The Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office admitted the error came down to a devastating “human mistake.”
“I want to make a sincere apology to the people of New Orleans,” Sheriff Susan Hutson said in a tense press briefing Friday. “The mistaken release of Khalil Bryan was a serious error, and as sheriff, I take full responsibility.”
Bryan had been in custody on a laundry list of charges, including resisting arrest, drug paraphernalia possession, and receiving stolen property. But those pale in comparison to his active warrant for aggravated assault with a firearm, domestic abuse, child endangerment, and home invasion.
“He is a violent offender,” Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick said bluntly. “His criminal history includes aggravated burglary and assault with a weapon. He should not be walking the streets.”
At the time of his release, Bryan was being held on a $100,000 bench warrant for skipping an arraignment, as well as a $25,000 bond tied to new felony charges.
Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams did not mince words. “Despite multiple holds, Bryan was set free when deputies failed to confirm his identity. That is inexcusable.”
Williams said his office is now considering criminal charges against the deputies involved. “We are not ruling anything out,” he warned.
Police say it’s unclear whether Bryan knows he was released by mistake — but they’re treating him as a fugitive.
“To Khalil Bryan: you are now on notice,” Chief Kirkpatrick said. “If you’re being harbored, those individuals will be prosecuted as well. Turn yourself in.”
Law enforcement has released Bryan’s photo and urged anyone with information to call 911 immediately.
This isn’t the first scandal to rock the Orleans Justice Center. Just two months ago, ten inmates escaped from the same jail. One is still missing.
Sheriff Hutson confirmed an internal investigation is already underway. Staff on duty are being questioned, and disciplinary action is coming.
“We don’t yet know exactly how this happened — only that it should never have happened,” Hutson admitted. “There was a failure of our internal checks and a complete breakdown of process.”
The District Attorney’s office has been contacting the victims and witnesses tied to Bryan’s criminal case.
“In cases where we can’t reach them by phone, we’re sending investigators door to door,” Williams said. “These families deserve to know what’s going on — and they deserve protection.”
As of Saturday morning, Bryan remains at large.
Sheriff Hutson vowed her office will “get to the bottom of it.”
But for many in New Orleans, one question echoes louder than the rest: How did this happen — again? And how many more mistakes can this broken system afford to make before someone else pays the ultimate price?
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Those who are negligent, should be imprisoned until we find the Violent Fugitive. An appropriate punishment should be imposed who let go the violent fugitive.
David.
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