Taaqi Brown was released from prison Monday night. His fiancée picked him up and they drove away in her SUV.
The only problem was that the George W. Hill Correctional Facility in Thornton, Pa. was supposed to release his brother Tarriq Brown -- not Taaqi Brown, the prison superintendent said.
After a 12-hour manhunt for the 21-year-old who was supposed to remain in prison awaiting his murder trial, Taaqi Brown turned himself in at the 35th Police District in Philadelphia at about 12:45 p.m. Tuesday with his family and NBC Philadelphia in tow.
On the car ride to the police station, Brown, his parents and his fiancée told reporter Lu Ann Cahn that they all helped him make the decision to voluntarily surrender.
The prison told him he could leave -- so he left, Brown said.
He went on to explain there was no indication that anything was wrong until his mother called saying news outlets were reporting that he'd escaped from prison.
Delaware County District Attorney Mike Green says although it was a paperwork error that led to Brown's release, he will be charged with escape because he did not alert prison officials about the mix-up.
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"I don’t understand how they could make that mistake to let him out and then describe him as this vicious person being armed and dangerous," his mother Lisa Locke said.
His family told reporter Lu Ann Cahn that they are all supporting him.
"I just take comfort in the truth," Brown's father Charles Brown said. "I know my son and I believe that he has not done the things they've accused him of doing."
Brown was awaiting trial for the May 2009 shooting death of 19-year-old Aaron Kearney in an Upper Darby playground. Investigators believe the killing was drug related and say they've spoken to 100 witnesses.
In the drive to surrender to police, Brown maintained that he is innocent of the shooting.
"I maintain my innocence in this situation. I am innocent," Brown said.
For more raw footage taken by Lu Ann Cahn in the drive to surrender, CLICK HERE.
