Authorities have confirmed the capture of Derrick Groves, the final fugitive from the May 2025 Orleans Parish jailbreak, ending a five-month nationwide manhunt that drew global attention.
Groves, 28, who was serving a life sentence for a 2024 double homicide at a Mardi Gras block party, was apprehended in Atlanta, Georgia, after being found hiding in a crawl space beneath a southwest Atlanta home.
The coordinated SWAT operation involved U.S. Marshals and local police, who reportedly used gas canisters in multiple attempts to flush Groves out before he was safely taken into custody.
Groves escaped on May 16, 2025, alongside nine other inmates after exploiting a faulty cell door and a hole behind a toilet at the Orleans Parish Justice Center. Surveillance footage captured several of the inmates sprinting across a nearby interstate moments after their escape.
Authorities had placed a $50,000 reward for information leading to Groves’ capture. His eventual arrest followed a tip-off to New Orleans Crimestoppers, which guided law enforcement to his Atlanta hideout.
Groves is currently being held at Fulton County Jail, awaiting extradition to Louisiana. In addition to his previous conviction, he and other escapees now face new felony charges related to the jailbreak.
Officials praised public cooperation, noting that the successful capture highlights the crucial role of citizen tips in helping track fugitives across state lines.
nice one