Derrick Groves is in jail because he was convicted for a deadly 2018 Mardi Gras Day shooting in New Orleans that killed two people and injured two others, leading to a life sentence on multiple counts of second‑degree murder and attempted second‑degree murder.

Quick Scoop: What He’s In Jail For

  • In October 2024, a jury found Derrick Groves guilty of two counts of second‑degree murder and two counts of attempted second‑degree murder.
  • The case came from a 2018 Mardi Gras Day shooting where two men, Jamar Robinson and Byron Jackson, were killed and two others were wounded during what should have been a family celebration in New Orleans.
  • These convictions carry a life sentence without the possibility of parole under Louisiana law, which is why he is serving long‑term time in prison.

Extra Context: Escape And Recapture

  • In May 2025, Groves was one of ten inmates who escaped from the Orleans Justice Center jail in New Orleans through a breach behind a toilet and a malfunctioning cell door.
  • He remained on the run for months and became the last of the escapees to be captured, ultimately being arrested in Atlanta in October 2025.
  • After his recapture, he continued to face his original life sentence for the Mardi Gras murders, along with additional legal exposure related to the jailbreak and any alleged assistance he received.

Other Reported Charges And Proceedings

  • Prosecutors and court records also note that, separate from the Mardi Gras case, Groves later pleaded guilty to two counts of manslaughter in another matter, adding to his serious criminal record.
  • Local authorities and the district attorney’s office have emphasized that the convictions were meant to deliver justice to the victims’ families and restore some public confidence after the highly publicized violence and escape.

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