A young man’s bright future was extinguished in a Savannah, Georgia Walmart, the victim of a brutal stabbing. Eighteen-year-old J.T. Schroeder, a promising young man with dreams of a life at sea, succumbed to his injuries four days after the October 23rd attack.
Police allege the confrontation began with a simple act – a kick to a shopping cart. Delano Middleton, 48, is accused of responding with a knife, plunging it into Schroeder during what authorities are calling an “altercation.” The details, stark and unsettling, paint a picture of a life violently cut short.
Schroeder wasn’t just a face in the crowd; he was a beacon of warmth and kindness. His obituary speaks of a radiant smile and a boundless heart, a young man who made everyone feel valued and seen. He was on the cusp of realizing his ambition, already sponsored to join the Merchant Marine.
Even in death, Schroeder offered a final act of generosity. He was an organ donor, providing a life-saving gift to seven families grappling with their own tragedies. His passing has left a void that those who knew him describe as immeasurable.
The accused, Delano Middleton, has a disturbing history. Four years ago, he attacked Erica Young, a U-Haul employee, stealing keys and then brutally stabbing her in the stomach and head. The attack, she says, was completely unprovoked.
“When I was on the ground, he told me that he wanted to watch me bleed out,” Young recounted, the chilling words echoing the senselessness of the violence. She had never met Middleton before that day, a terrifying encounter that forever altered her life.
Middleton received a plea deal in December 2023, resulting in a two-year prison sentence followed by eight years of probation for aggravated assault. Young, however, felt the punishment was woefully inadequate, a sentiment that now feels tragically prescient.
“He got away with the stabbing of me, so he thought he could get away with it again,” Young stated, her words now laced with a heartbreaking sense of inevitability. She believes a harsher sentence could have prevented Schroeder’s death.
The news of Schroeder’s death reopened old wounds for Young, fueling a profound sense of regret and a desperate wish she had fought harder for a more severe punishment. Driven by fear for her children’s safety, she fled her home after Middleton’s release.
Currently, Delano Middleton is held without bond in the Chatham County Jail, facing a murder charge. The case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of violence and the enduring pain left in its wake.
