As we delve more into the criminal histories of Derrick Groves and Antoine Massey, we are also learning how generational trauma may have impacted them after each witnessed, or had deep knowledge growing up of violent deaths in their families.
WDSU Reporter Shay O’Connor stood along Plum Orchard right off Chef Menteur Highway, where Antoine Massey is said to have witnessed his father being shot to death in front of him.
Pastor Robert Brown with Ray Avenue Baptist Church said, “He had to be about 6 or 7 years old. Far as I know, he was supposedly in the house at the time the altercation took place with his father when he was murdered.”
Brown is Massey’s family pastor. He’s known Massey since he was born and said he also hung out with his father, whose name was also Antoine. Brown said the murder definitely impacted a young Massey’s life.
Brown said, “I don’t see no way humanly possible that something of this magnitude could have not impacted any of us. Let alone a kid. We are concerned about Antoine because we know about Antoine. But what about the Antoines that are out there that we do not know about?”
Over in the Lower 9th Ward, Derrick Groves was not born yet in 1994 when his grandmother, Kim Groves, was shot and killed execution style. The hit was ordered by then-NOPD officer Len Davis.
Kim Groves’ friend said, “You are supposed to be able to trust the police. Why would you? You killed my grandmother.”
Dr. Danna Andrus, a licensed family therapist, said, “We are talking about his grandmother. That’s one generation. His mother — that’s two. Then him that’s three. If he doesn’t realize it and say at some point I need to change it, it’ll go to the next generation.”
Both men escaped the Orleans Parish Jail with eight others more than two weeks ago on May 16. As of June 2, they are the only two still on the loose.
Andrus said the impacts of generational trauma can lead to crime.
“It’s not so much that it happens. It’s that we have been taught this is the correct way. We have been taught that even if it’s wrong, don’t fight against it,” Andrus said.
Mental health experts told WDSU that about 60% of the youth in our city deal with some form of PTSD, which is four times the national average.
“We have to believe with our collective consciousness we can be larger than this situation and we can turn it around,” Andrus said.
The Groves family and the Massey family urged both men to turn themselves in. Rewards for each are up to $50,000.
If you know anything that could lead to an arrest, call Crime Stoppers at 504-822-1111.
READ MORE:New Orleans experts talk impacts of generational trauma as two escaped OJC inmates remain on loose
