James Wilson, the man police say masterminded a drug robbery that turned into a double homicide in one of the city's most desirous apartment buildings, turned himself in early this evening at the Philadelphia Police headquarters.

Wilson was accompanied by his attorney, Christopher Warren, his pastor and his parents.

Homicide detectives and other officers stood outside the headquarters building for hours today, along with a large media contingent, awaiting Wilson's anticipated appearance.

"He want to do his best to clear his name," said Warren outside police headquarters tonight. "He wasn't involved in the shootings."

Warren said his client wanted to turn himself in on Friday but Warren said he was not available because of previous commitments.

Warren told reporters Wilson's real name is Will Hook.

Wilson was immediately taken into custody by police for the burglary warrant. Wilson will be in police custody from at least 18 to 36 hours, Warren said.

Warren told The Inquirer last week that Wilson, also known as Keith Epps, planned to surrender today. He arrived about 7:40 p.m.

Although police say he set up the crime that left well-known party planner Rian Thal, 34, and her friend Timothy Gilmore, 40, riddled with bullets, Wilson has not been charged in their deaths.

Instead, he faces burglary and other charges for what police described as an earlier attempt to rob Thal, a player in the drug underworld who had four kilograms of cocaine and more than $100,000 in cash in her Northern Liberties apartment when she was killed.

Police say Wilson, 40, and another man, Robert Keith, 27, kicked in the door of a vacant apartment at the Piazza at Schmidt's around 4 a.m. on June 27, the day of the shootings.

The unit, which they believed was Thal's, was on floor below her residence, on the seventh floor of the $150 million complex's Navona building.

Keith was arrested last week.

When the burglary attempt failed, police said, Wilson convinced a female friend, Katoya Jones, who also lived in the building to help several men get into the Navona.

Jones, 25, was charged July 2 with murder, conspiracy and other crimes. She was seen on a surveillance camera allowing one of the three shooters follow to her through the front door.

That man then let three others -- two more gunman and a look-out -- into the building.

Police have an arrest warrant for Donnell Murchison, 32, of the 6500 block of Limekiln Pirk, who they say was one of the gunmen. Murchison, who remains at large, fired shots into both Thal and Gilmore, police said.

He's wanted for murder and other charges, and U.S. marshals have offered a $10,000 for his arrest.

Police said the three gunman, who confronted Thal and Gilmore outsider her apartment, had planned to push them inside and rob them. Gilmore apparently tried to run, and both were gunned down.

Detectives are still seeking the identity of the other two gunmen, as well as at least two look-outs - one captured on surveillance inside the building, and another seen outside the building.

They also continue to search for a man seen leaving Thal's apartment after the shooting, carrying a large duffel bag. Police have said they are close to identifying the man, believed to be an associate of Gilmore's.

Thal grew up in Lafayette Hill and founded RiGirl Productions, a Philadelphia party-planning firm.

She was known for throwing events that attracted professional athletes, celebrities, and aspiring rap stars. In April, fliers advertised a dual birthday party for her and James "Kamal" Gray of the Roots, the Grammy-winning band, at Plush nightclub.

Gilmore, a former Detroit firefighter living in Ohio, drove a tractor-trailer, which police suspect might have been a cover for drug-running. His connection to Thal remains unclear.

Thal, who twice had been arrested for drugs, was known to narcotics investigators, and her role in that underworld has been described variously as a "holder" of drugs and money to an active trafficker.

Contact staff writer Troy Graham at 215-854-2730 or tgraham@phillynews.com.