Fugitive Derrick Groves Caught After Months on the Run
New Orleans—Derrick Groves, the final fugitive from New Orleans who escaped from the Orleans Justice Center nearly five months ago, has been apprehended, as confirmed by authorities on Wednesday.
Groves was arrested in Atlanta following a brief standoff, according to Louisiana State Police. Deputy U.S. Marshal Brian Fair mentioned that the SWAT team spent several hours at Groves’ residence, having obtained a search warrant.
“They searched for him extensively and had to pump gas into the house and basement multiple times,” Fair explained. “If it took a trained SWAT team that long to find him, he was likely hiding well.”
Atlanta Police Deputy Chief Kelly Collier added that a police dog played a key role in locating Groves.
Footage shared by the Atlanta Police Department shows Groves, who was without a shirt or shoes and restrained at the wrists and ankles, kissing someone filming him as he was taken to a police vehicle, and he even smiled during the encounter.
According to Fair, tips leading to Groves’ capture came from New Orleans Crimestoppers, an anonymous tip service. Notably, he was the only individual found at the scene; no other arrests occurred.
On Wednesday afternoon, the garage door of the house was seen collapsing inward as officers and vehicles surrounded the area. The home, a brick structure set on a slope and enveloped in trees, is adjacent to Tyler Perry Studios, a significant film production facility.
The 28-year-old man was one of ten inmates who broke out of the facility on May 16, exploiting a hole cut in the wall behind a toilet in a first-floor cell.
Groves was previously convicted of murder and faced a potential life sentence. He has a notably violent criminal record, prompting authorities to announce a reward of $50,000 for information leading to his arrest.
“Convicted murderer Derrick Groves has been rearrested in Atlanta after a brief standoff,” Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill stated. “He will face charges related to his escape, and I will ensure he is prosecuted to the fullest extent.”
As of now, it’s unclear if Groves has legal representation that could comment on this matter.
Authorities indicated that the arrests were the result of a collaborative effort involving several enforcement agencies, including local authorities, the APD, U.S. Marshals, the FBI, and Homeland Security Investigations.
The other nine escapees—Jermaine Donald, Antwon Massey, Robert Moody, Kendell Miles, Gary Price, Dokenan Dennis, Renton VanBuren, Leo Tate, and Corey Boyd—have since been transferred to Angola prison, according to reports. Many of these individuals were originally in custody for violent crimes, including murder. In 2024, Groves was convicted of second-degree murder for shooting at a family gathering during Mardi Gras, resulting in two deaths and multiple injuries. He is now facing a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
