A convicted murderer remains at large while New Orleans officials scramble to address the shocking security breach that allowed 10 inmates to escape by tearing toilets from walls and leaving graffiti mocking the facility’s lax security.
Key Takeaways
- Antoine Massey became the ninth of ten Orleans Justice Center escapees to be captured, leaving only convicted murderer Derrick Groves still at large.
- The inmates escaped on May 16 by exploiting a malfunctioning cell door, removing a toilet, and crawling through a hole—a breach that went undetected for over seven hours.
- The escapees left taunting graffiti reading “Too easy LOL,” highlighting the facility’s serious security vulnerabilities.
- A $50,000 reward is currently offered for information leading to the arrest of Derrick Groves, who was serving time for second-degree murder and attempted murder.
- The jailbreak investigation has already resulted in at least 16 arrests, including a jail maintenance worker suspected of facilitating the escape.
Ninth Escapee Captured After Six Weeks on the Run
Law enforcement officials have successfully apprehended Antoine Massey, the ninth of ten inmates who escaped from the Orleans Justice Center on May 16. Massey, 33, managed to evade capture for six weeks before being taken into custody at a residence in New Orleans. Following his capture, he was immediately airlifted to a state correctional facility outside the city. Massey faces additional charges related to his escape, on top of his previous charges of domestic abuse battery, motor vehicle theft, and parole violation.
“Deputy U.S. Marshal Brian Fair told CNN that Mr. Massey was taken in a “peaceful” manner without further incident,” stated Deputy U.S. Marshal Brian Fair
BREAKING: Jail escapee Antoine Massey was recaptured Friday (June 27) in New Orleans, the US Marshals Service announced. Only Derrick Groves remains among the 10 fugitives who escaped on May 16 from the Orleans Justice Center jail. https://t.co/KTqK5lldUC pic.twitter.com/XoOf5eCDFH
— FOX 8 New Orleans (@FOX8NOLA) June 27, 2025
Sophisticated Escape Exploited Multiple Security Failures
The audacious escape plan revealed shocking security lapses at the Orleans Justice Center. The inmates began their escape by exploiting a malfunctioning cell door, then tore a toilet off a wall to create an opening. After crawling through the hole, they scaled a fence to complete their escape. Most concerning to taxpayers and residents is that this jailbreak went completely undetected for more than seven hours and was only discovered during a routine morning headcount, demonstrating a catastrophic failure in security protocols.
The taunting graffiti left behind by the escapees shows their contempt for the facility’s security measures. This brazen escape has prompted serious questions about the management of the Orleans Justice Center and has resulted in a sweeping investigation that has already led to 16 arrests, including a jail maintenance worker suspected of helping facilitate the escape. The fact that criminals could so easily exploit these vulnerabilities demonstrates the incompetence of the current facility management.
Convicted Murderer Still at Large
While nine of the ten escapees have been recaptured, Derrick Groves remains at large, posing a significant threat to public safety. Groves was serving time for second-degree murder and attempted murder convictions, making him extremely dangerous. Authorities have offered a substantial $50,000 reward for information leading to his arrest. Law enforcement agencies at the local, state, and federal levels continue their coordinated efforts to locate and apprehend the final fugitive.
“It’s pretty obvious over the last six weeks, to remain a fugitive that long, he had assistance, he had help. Whether or not it was someone who helped him with the Airbnb, we would have to think ‘yes,’ but who (it was) and all those things will be determined later,” LSP Superintendent Robert Hodges said, according to New Orleans’ Times-Picayune,” said LSP Superintendent Robert Hodges.
Investigators believe Massey had significant assistance during his time on the run, and they suspect similar networks may be helping Groves evade capture. New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick has publicly urged Groves to surrender peacefully, but with each passing day, concerns grow about the potential for additional crimes to be committed by the fugitive. The fact that a convicted murderer could escape from custody and remain free for so long represents a serious failure of our criminal justice system.
Systemic Failures Demand Accountability
This mass escape exposes a pattern of negligence and incompetence in the Orleans Justice Center’s security protocols. The ability of ten inmates to coordinate such an elaborate escape plan, including removing fixtures and creating structural openings without detection, points to systemic failures in supervision, facility maintenance, and security procedures. Taxpayers deserve to know how such basic security measures could fail so catastrophically and who will be held accountable for putting public safety at risk.
The ongoing investigation must address not only how the inmates escaped but also why warning signs were ignored, how security cameras failed to capture the escape in progress, and why it took so long to discover the missing inmates. With nine escapees now back in custody, attention turns to capturing the final and most dangerous fugitive while simultaneously implementing urgent reforms to prevent such security breaches from recurring in the future.
