A sprawling five-month manhunt concluded dramatically this Wednesday. Law enforcement finally cornered Derrick Groves, 28, in Atlanta, Georgia. He was the last of ten prisoners to remain at large after a notorious jailbreak in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Police received a tip that led them to a house in Atlanta. Officers launched tear gas canisters into the building. They soon discovered Groves hidden in a specially prepared crawl space beneath the basement. His capture marks the end of a long and challenging chase for authorities.
Groves and nine others made their daring escape from a New Orleans prison back in May. Their method was quite audacious. They tore a toilet from a cell wall, then smashed through the iron grate behind it. From there, they found their way to a hallway. The group then ran across a highway, vanishing into the night.
The escapees left a mocking message for the police. Scrawled on a wall above the hole they used were phrases like “To Easy LoL.” A playful tongue-out emoji also adorned the wall. Other notes seemed to challenge officers to catch them if they could.
Groves was a prisoner facing serious charges before his escape. He had been connected to a shooting at a Mardi Gras festival. That incident involved an assault rifle and tragically left two people dead. Groves was later convicted of second-degree murder in October 2024, receiving a life sentence. He also faced convictions for attempted murder and federal firearms charges.
Now, Groves will face even more legal trouble. Prosecutors in Louisiana say he will be charged for his escape. He is currently awaiting extradition back to Louisiana to answer for these new charges.
Source: BBC