New Orleans jail escapee gets life sentences
Derrick Groves, 28, the last inmate recaptured after a May New Orleans jailbreak, was sentenced Friday to two life terms plus two consecutive 50-year sentences for a 2018 Mardi Gras party shooting that killed Jamar Robinson and Byron Jackson and wounded others. Judge Dennis Waldron rebuked Groves for his five months on the run, lack of remorse, and past courtroom behavior, while Groves’ attorney said he maintains his innocence and will appeal.
📌 Key Facts
- Groves was captured Oct. 8, 2025 under a house in Atlanta after escaping in May through a hole behind a jail toilet with nine others.
- A jury previously convicted him of two counts of second-degree murder; he also pleaded guilty in a separate case to two manslaughter counts.
- Judge Waldron imposed two life sentences plus two 50-year terms for attempted murders, to be served consecutively.
📊 Relevant Data
Black or African American residents made up 55.22% of the population in New Orleans in 2023.
New Orleans, Louisiana Population 2025 — World Population Review
In New Orleans, Black people make up at least 80% to 92% of murder victims, despite comprising about 55% of the population.
New Orleans murder victims mostly Black people, analyst says — WDSU
New Orleans police data suggests that young Black males are doing the bulk of the killing, indicating overrepresentation as homicide suspects compared to their population proportion.
New Orleans murder surge puts young Black men at huge risk — NOLA.com
The homicide rate for Black residents in New Orleans is 58.9 per 100,000, higher than the rate of 37.6 in comparable cities.
2024 Health Disparity Report — City of New Orleans