J.T. Schroeder was an 18-year-old boy with a promising future. He loved fishing and spending time with family and friends. His whole life, he had dreamed of a career as a US Merchant Marine. Sadly, those hopes and dreams ended on October 23 when a stranger stabbed Schroeder at a Georgia Walmart. Devastatingly, his alleged killer, Delano Middleton, was reportedly on probation for a previous violent attack.
Schroeder allegedly kicked Delano’s shopping cart in a Walmart parking lot, which led to a physical altercation, WJCL reported. Middleton, 48, allegedly stabbed Schroeder multiple times, and he died of his wounds on October 27. His father, also named J.T. Schroeder, told the outlet he could not believe this happened to his son.
“My son was never, ever confrontational unless he was confronted first,” Schroeder said.
When he arrived at the scene, it was horrifying.
“I got over there as fast as I could and saw blood everywhere. He was literally stabbed over ten times until he finally bled out and died,” the father told WJCL.
Middleton reportedly has a violent past. WJCL reported he’s had prior arrests for aggravated assault, battery, and weapons charges.
Erica Young told WTOC that Middleton stabbed her in 2021 when she worked as a manager at U-Haul. Young claims the courts didn’t do enough to keep the community safe.
“The system failed that kid’s family,” she said.
Young told the news station she’d never met Middleton before the day he violently attacked her.
“When I was on the ground, he told me that he wanted to watch me bleed out,” Young recalled to WTOC. “I’ve never met him before that day, never had any contact with him.”
A judge sentenced Middleton to two years in prison and eight years’ probation. Young thinks Middleton felt like he got away with stabbing her and would get away with another violent crime.
“I’m so sorry for their loss,” she said. “It made me wish I fought more — then he wouldn’t have been able to get out of the streets. But I have two kids, so I fled. We packed up our entire house.”
The loss of J.T. Schroeder devastated his family. He donated his organs in one last selfless act before dying. Loved ones shared beautiful words about the young man in his obituary.
“JT lived life with a rare and radiant light. He loved deeply, laughed easily, and left an imprint on every heart that knew him. His kindness, humor, and love for his family and friends will forever echo in the lives he touched,” the obituary reads.
Middleton faces murder charges and is being held without bond.
This story seems like a true failure of justice. Is two years in prison enough for a violent criminal? It appears it wasn’t for Middleton. Hopefully, the court will see he’s a true threat and push for a conviction. May he never hurt an innocent person again.
