what did derrick groves do

Derrick Groves is a convicted criminal from New Orleans known for a violent criminal history culminating in a conviction for the murders of two men during Mardi Gras in 2018. He was identified as one of the two gunmen who fired AK-47-style rifles, causing the deaths of Jamar and Byron, as well as attempting to murder two others. He was convicted after multiple trials, with prosecutors relying heavily on social media evidence and eyewitness testimonies. Groves was awaiting sentencing for these convictions when he escaped from the Orleans Justice Center jail in May 2025 alongside nine other inmates. After evading authorities for nearly five months, he was captured in Atlanta in October 2025 following a standoff with police and marshals. Groves also pleaded guilty to other charges including battery against a correctional facility employee and manslaughter in unrelated cases. His actions have been a significant public safety concern and highlighted failures in jail security.