Derrick Groves Captured After Atlanta Sighting by Lil Woody

Derrick Groves, a convicted murderer who escaped from a New Orleans prison, was captured on October 8, 2025, in Atlanta. The arrest followed a tip-off from Kenneth Copeland, better known as Lil Woody, who claimed he spotted Groves at a club in the city shortly before law enforcement apprehended him.

Groves was one of ten inmates who escaped from the Orleans Parish Justice Center on May 16, 2025. His escape was notable as he was the last of the group to be found. Following a hearing on October 9, Groves agreed to be extradited to Louisiana, expressing his wish to return home.

In a video posted on the X account @mymixtapez on October 10, Lil Woody recounted his experience, stating that he and a friend were at the club when they saw Groves. Woody humorously suggested he should have approached Groves to encourage him to turn himself in for a share of the reward.

According to a Facebook post from the Louisiana State Police, Groves was transported from Atlanta to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and later flown to a secure correctional facility by helicopter.

Details of the Escape and Arrest

The escape on May 16 involved Groves and nine others climbing through a hole in the wall of the prison. Initial reports indicated that three inmates were recaptured later that day, followed by five more by the end of May. Inmate Antoine Massey was captured in Hollygrove, New Orleans, in late June.

During a press conference on October 8, Louisiana State Police Superintendent Robert Hodges revealed that authorities believed Groves had traveled to Atlanta following his escape. They traced him to a specific address in the city using information obtained through multiple search warrants and investigative techniques.

The police, along with U.S. Marshals and the SWAT team, executed a raid on the residence, where they located Groves hiding in a crawlspace. The operation concluded with a brief standoff, after which Groves was taken into custody. Video footage from the scene captured him blowing a kiss to cameras as he was placed in a police cruiser.

Legal Consequences Awaiting Groves

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill announced that Groves would be transferred to the Louisiana State Penitentiary, also known as Angola, where the other nine escapees are currently held. Groves faces serious charges, including “two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted second-degree murder” stemming from a shooting incident during Mardi Gras in 2018.

He was awaiting sentencing for these charges when he escaped in May 2025. If convicted, Groves could face a life sentence, marking a significant legal consequence for his actions both before and after the escape.

The rapid developments surrounding Derrick Groves illustrate the complexities of managing high-risk inmates and the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to maintain public safety.