who is derrick groves and what did he do

Derrick Groves is a convicted murderer from New Orleans who gained national attention after escaping from the Orleans Parish Justice Center on May 16, 2025, along with nine other inmates. He was serving a life sentence for his involvement in a deadly shooting during a Mardi Gras block party in 2018, in which two people were killed and several others were wounded. Following his escape, Groves was on the run for nearly five months before being captured in Atlanta on October 8, 2025. Groves had a violent criminal history, including convictions for two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted second-degree murder. He was known for using violence to intimidate witnesses and was considered a serious public safety threat before his imprisonment. The jailbreak occurred through a hole behind a toilet in the jail, revealing significant security flaws at the Orleans Parish Justice Center. His escape prompted a large manhunt, and his capture brought relief to victims and the community. Authorities are investigating who may have assisted him in escaping and traveling to Atlanta.