A Georgia man accused of fatally stabbing an 18-year-old inside a Walmart was on probation for a previous knife attack at the time of the killing, authorities said.
Delano Middleton has been charged with murder in connection with the Oct. 23 death of J.T. Schroeder, the Chatham County Police Department confirmed. It remains unclear whether Middleton has entered a plea.
Police said the confrontation began when Schroeder allegedly kicked Middleton’s shopping cart as Middleton was exiting the store. Schroeder sustained multiple stab wounds and lacerations and died four days later in the hospital.
Court records show that Middleton was on probation following a 2023 conviction for aggravated assault. That charge stemmed from a 2021 incident in which he was accused of stabbing a woman.
According to court documents, Middleton was sentenced to two years in prison and eight years of probation but was released after receiving credit for time served. Prosecutors have since filed a motion to revoke his probation.
Erica Young, who identified herself as the victim of the 2021 assault, told local station WTOC that she was stabbed four times by Middleton.
“I asked him if he needed help finding his vehicle, and he shoved a cart on top of me and just started stabbing me,” Young said.
Schroeder’s father, also named J.T., told WJCL that the claim his son initiated the encounter by kicking the cart doesn’t tell the full story.
“My son was never, ever confrontational unless he was confronted first,” he said.
The younger Schroeder was an organ donor, and his family has urged others to consider doing the same.
“Although losing J.T. was devastating, let this bring light to becoming an organ donor,” Dr. James Dunne told WTOC. “We rarely get the chance to save someone’s life — but this is one way we can save many.”
