Derrick Groves killed two men named Jamar Robinson and Byron Jackson during a Mardi Gras family gathering in New Orleans in 2018. He was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison for shooting them with an assault rifle during a dispute related to drugs. Groves was also found guilty of two counts of attempted second-degree murder relating to the same incident. He was awaiting sentencing for these charges when he escaped prison in May 2025 and was recaptured in October 2025 after a manhunt.
The killings happened during what was supposed to be a joyous celebration, but Groves opened fire at the gathering, which prosecutors linked to a dispute over drugs. His violent actions severely impacted the community and led to his conviction and life sentence.
In summary, Derrick Groves killed Jamar Robinson and Byron Jackson in 2018 during a Mardi Gras event because of a drug-related dispute, leading to his murder conviction and life imprisonment sentence.