Derrick Groves, 28, convicted to life imprisonment for murder, seemed to think it was a big joke and he repeatedly grinned and nodded during his sentencing Friday. If you don’t know, he escaped from custody in New Orleans and was on the run for about five months. Read on for more details.
Sentenced To Two Life Sentences
CBS News reported that Groves appeared in a “New Orleans courtroom, months after investigators tracked him down and captured him beneath a house in Atlanta.” Well, for all of his bravado and smirking, he still has to deal with the fact that the judge sentenced him to two life sentences and an additional 100 years.
The true crime originally happened back in 2018, when Derrick Groves participated in a 2018 Mardi Gras shooting. He and another defendant used “AK-47 style” firearms and opened fire during a family gathering. Reportedly, he also pleaded guilty to manslaughter for two other unrelated killings.
The Escape & Recapture
Jamar Robinson and Byron Jackson died, and now it’s time to do the time. However, Groves seemed just to laugh it off. When he escaped from the “Orleans Parish Justice Center in May this year, he scrawled some graffiti that read ‘Too Easy LOL.'” Apparently, he escaped through a wall in a toilet in a handicapped zone.
Fortunately, someone tipped off the whereabouts of Groves and he was finally rearrested. Naturally, Judge Dennis Waldron let him know that his antics outside of prison caused a lot of trouble for law enforcement. Not pulling any punches, Waldron told him off and then made sure he won’t get out and be a public menace again. It seems unlikely that he’ll end up on parole, at least any time soon.
Appealing & Claiming Innocence
News also arrived that he will be appealing the case. According to his attorney, he’s not only innocent, but also feels bad for the victims’ families. Well, smiling and laughing during his sentencing probably doesn’t help very much, especially as it came during victim impact statements.
His escape with nine other prisoners involved the help of Sterling Williams, a maintenance worker. Plus, many other people were also facing charges for the escape. After they picked up Derrick Groves, law enforcement authorities found drugs and weapons in Atlanta. Despite his claims of innocence, it seems that he wasn’t about to win a Sunday School prize.
Viewers React
When @WWLTV shared about the sentencing on YouTube, many true crime followers spoke out in the comments. One of them seemed a bit shocked, writing, “2 life sentences plus 100 years?”
Others also responded in the discussion that followed. Here are some of those comments:
- Our legal system is a total joke where we need to give two life terms plus one hundred years just to hope they remain behind bars forever.
- Can u imagine… you’re young, good-looking, healthy, and have nothing to look forward to. Grow old and die…the best u could’ve came up with was murder. What a life.
- It’s crazy. I just watched a documentary about his Grandmother who was murdered by crooked NOPD in 1994.
- I hope he rots in prison. He sat in that court room laughing and making faces at the families of the victims.
What are your thoughts? Sound off in the comments below, and come back here often for all your true crime news and updates.