SAVANNAH, Ga. – A Georgia man with a history of violent crime and a recent prison sentence is accused of fatally stabbing an 18-year-old during an altercation at a Savannah Walmart, according to local officials. The suspect, 48-year-old Delano Middleton, was on parole at the time of the killing.
Deadly Altercation at Walmart
The Chatham County Police Department said officers responded to a stabbing at a Walmart on October 23, where 18-year-old J.T. Schroeder was attacked during what investigators described as “an altercation” inside the store.
Police allege the incident began after Schroeder kicked Middleton’s shopping cart, leading to a confrontation that quickly turned violent. Schroeder was rushed to a local hospital but died four days later from his injuries.
Middleton was arrested and charged with murder, and is currently being held without bond at the Chatham County Jail.
“This is a senseless loss of a young man’s life over something that should never have escalated,” said a spokesperson for the Chatham County Police Department.
Remembering J.T. Schroeder
Family and friends described J.T. Schroeder as an ambitious, kindhearted teenager who dreamed of becoming a merchant marine. He had already secured a sponsorship to begin his career at sea.
“The world lost a beautiful soul far too soon,” his obituary read. “JT loved people deeply and had a smile that could light up any room. He made everyone feel seen and included, whether you were a lifelong friend or someone he’d just met.”
In a final act of generosity, Schroeder’s organs were donated, giving the “gift of life to seven families,” according to his family.
A Violent Criminal History
Court records reveal that Middleton’s violent past stretches back several years. In October 2021, Erica Young, an employee at a U-Haul store in Savannah, said Middleton stabbed her multiple times in an unprovoked attack after trying to steal truck keys.
“When I was on the ground, he told me he wanted to watch me bleed out,” Young told local news outlet WTOC. “I’d never seen him before that day.”
Middleton later pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in that case as part of a plea deal in December 2023, serving two years in prison followed by eight years of probation.
Young said the lenient sentence made her fear that Middleton would commit another violent act.
“He got away with stabbing me, so he thought he could get away with it again,” she said. “This young man might still be alive if there had been a tougher sentence.”
Calls for Accountability
Young and others familiar with the case have criticized what they describe as failures in the justice system, arguing that Middleton’s release after just two years sent the wrong message.
“I’m so sorry for their loss,” Young said of Schroeder’s family. “It made me wish I had fought harder. Maybe he wouldn’t have been back on the streets.”
Authorities have not indicated whether additional investigations will be opened into Middleton’s probation supervision or early release.
Current Status
Middleton remains in custody without bond at the Chatham County Jail. Prosecutors have not yet announced when his court appearance will take place.
Meanwhile, the Savannah community continues to mourn Schroeder’s death — a tragedy that has renewed conversations about recidivism, parole oversight, and sentencing for violent offenders.
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