What are the charges on Derrick Groves? Fugitive caught in Atlanta, where he escaped after nearly five months on the run

Derrick Groves, the last of 10 inmates who escaped from the Orleans Justice Center in New Orleans, was captured on Wednesday in Southwest Atlanta following a standoff with Atlanta Police and US Marshals, according to Deputy US Marshal Brian Fair, reports CNN. Groves had been on the run since May 16, when he and nine others broke out of the jail.

Authorities said a tip to Crime Stoppers Greater New Orleans, combined with follow-up investigative work, led to Groves’ arrest at a residence in Atlanta.

Charges against Derrick Groves

Derrick Groves, 28, was convicted of two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted second-degree murder, charges that carry a life sentence.
The convictions stem from a deadly shooting during Mardi Gras in 2018, in which Groves was one of the gunmen who opened fire with AK-47-style assault rifles. The New Orleans District Attorney’s Office described the attack as having “turned what should have been a joyous Mardi Gras family gathering into a scene of tragedy.”

Background: Escape from Orleans Justice Center

Groves was part of a group of 10 prisoners who escaped in mid-May, triggering a massive multi-state manhunt. Over nearly five months, law enforcement pursued leads across state lines to locate the fugitives. Groves was the final escapee to be apprehended, bringing closure to the lengthy search.

Who were the other inmates along with Groves

Derrick Groves was the last of 10 inmates to be recaptured following their escape from the Orleans Justice Center in May. In the days after the breakout, several were arrested quickly: Kendell Myles, Robert Moody, and Dkenan Dennis were captured within hours, followed by Gary Price on May 19 and Corey Boyd the next day. On May 26, Jermaine Donald and Leo Tate were arrested in Texas, while Lenton Vanburen was taken into custody in Baton Rouge. Antoine Massey was apprehended in June at a home in New Orleans.

Groves’s girlfriend also arrested

The investigation also led to the arrest of more than a dozen people accused of helping the escapees, including Groves’ girlfriend, Darriana Burton, as per NBC. Authorities said Burton exchanged text messages and video calls with Groves while he was in jail and intentionally kept conversations vague to avoid detection. According to her arrest affidavit, she implied arranging a follow-up call outside of monitoring, which investigators believe was intended to discuss the escape.