Derrick Groves, the last of 10 inmates who escaped from a New Orleans correctional facility in May, has been recaptured in southwest Atlanta after a tense standoff with law enforcement officials, authorities confirmed on Wednesday.
Groves, 32, who had been on the run since the May 16 jailbreak, was taken into custody by a joint task force of the U.S. Marshals Service and the Atlanta Police Department after officers surrounded a residence where he had been hiding.
According to officials, officers tracked Groves to a home on Campbellton Road following several days of surveillance and intelligence gathering. When officers moved in to execute a warrant early Wednesday morning, Groves reportedly barricaded himself inside, prompting a standoff that lasted nearly two hours.
Law enforcement negotiators were called to the scene, and after intense negotiations, Groves surrendered without further incident. No injuries were reported among officers or civilians.
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Authorities said Groves will be transported back to Louisiana, where he faces additional federal charges related to his escape. He was initially serving a 15-year sentence for armed robbery and aggravated assault.
“This marks the conclusion of an extensive, multi-agency effort to locate and apprehend all ten fugitives who escaped the Orleans Parish facility earlier this year,” said U.S. Marshal Darrell Jackson in a statement. “Groves’ capture underscores our commitment to ensuring that no one evades justice.”
The May jailbreak, described by officials as one of the most daring in recent Louisiana history, involved inmates cutting through security fencing and overpowering guards during a power outage. Nine of the fugitives were apprehended within weeks, but Groves managed to evade authorities for nearly five months, reportedly moving between Louisiana, Alabama, and Georgia.
Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum commended the cooperation between local and federal agencies, saying, “This arrest demonstrates the importance of inter-agency collaboration in bringing dangerous fugitives to justice.”
Groves is expected to be transferred under heavy security to New Orleans within the week to face arraignment and additional charges for escape and obstruction of justice.
