Man who escaped from prison after being charged with 4 murders, pleads guilty to murder and other crimes

PHILADELPHIA. A man who escaped from prison last year after being charged with four murders and then spent a week and a half on the run before being recaptured has pleaded guilty to murder and other crimes.

Amin Hurst, 20, chained to a wooden chair, pleaded guilty Friday to 28 counts, including four counts of third-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder, as well as escape, conspiracy and firearms offenses. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.

Hurst was arrested at age 16 in 2021 and charged with four counts of murder and two counts of armed robbery. Law enforcement officials said he was linked to two affiliated Philadelphia gangs responsible for the wave of violence.

Hurst and another inmate, Nasir Grant, escaped last May from the Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center in Northeast Philadelphia. Grant was taken into custody four days later, and Hearst was on the run for 10 days before being re-arrested.

Prosecutors said the two cut a hole in the fence surrounding the prison’s recreation yard and were gone for nearly 19 hours before officials learned they were missing. Authorities also blamed disabled motion sensors and a sleeping security guard, and several people were also accused of helping the escapees.

Assistant District Attorney Anthony Vosey said investigators are pleased with the outcome of the cases, mainly because the families of the victims will be spared a lengthy trial. At the same time, he said that “it is difficult to imagine that four young lives were extinguished by someone who was 16 years old. This is a tragedy in itself.”

He also said Hearst laughed about the killings during calls from behind bars, showing “a level of callousness and ruthlessness that is frightening.” Assistant District Attorney Brett Zakeosian said that while on the run, Hearst rented a recording studio and recorded a new rap song, which he later released online.

Defense attorney Gary Silver declined to comment Friday. Hurst is expected to be sentenced in two weeks.