The manhunt for Derrick Groves, the final fugitive among 10 inmates who escaped from the Orleans Justice Center in New Orleans nearly five months ago, has officially ended. Groves, 28, was arrested on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, after a tense standoff with Atlanta Police SWAT and US Marshals at a residence in Southwest Atlanta.
According to Deputy US Marshal Brian Fair, the arrest followed a Crimestoppers tip and an extensive multi-agency investigation. Officers spent nearly three hours locating Groves, who was ultimately found hiding in a crawl space after multiple rounds of tear gas were deployed.
A Violent Offender Brought Back to Justice
Groves was convicted of two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder for opening fire with AK-47-style rifles during a 2018 Mardi Gras celebration, killing two men and injuring others. He was awaiting sentencing when he escaped custody on May 16, 2025, in what New Orleans District Attorney Jason Williams called a “historic failure of custodial security.”
“This was a very dangerous individual,” said Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, adding that Groves will face additional charges for his escape, including aggravated escape after weapons and drugs were found in his possession.
How the Jailbreak Unfolded
The dramatic prison break began just after midnight on May 16, when a corrections technician left his post for a food break. During that window, inmates in Cell Delta 1006 broke open a door and used electric hair trimmers to cut through a wall behind a toilet. They concealed their escape route by reattaching the toilet before slipping out into the night — leaving behind a taunting message: “To Easy LoL.”
Groves and nine others fled across a nearby interstate, sparking one of the largest multi-agency manhunts in recent Louisiana history.
Multi-Agency Effort Brings Closure
Groves’ arrest was the result of coordinated efforts between the US Marshals Service, Atlanta Police Department, Louisiana State Police, New Orleans Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the FBI New Orleans.
Col. Robert Hodges, head of Louisiana State Police, praised the “seamless collaboration” that led to the capture.
District Attorney Williams said Groves’ arrest brings “long-awaited calm” to victims and their families, emphasizing that justice will be pursued “for every crime he has committed and every consequence he sought to avoid.”
What’s Next for Groves
Groves will appear in a Georgia court to determine whether he will waive extradition back to Louisiana. If not, state officials will initiate formal proceedings to return him to the Louisiana State Penitentiary, where the other nine escapees are already being held.
With his capture, authorities say the months-long New Orleans jailbreak saga has finally come to an end.
