A woman from Georgia has come forward, claiming that the man charged with the murder of a teenager at a Walmart last month was the same individual who randomly stabbed her back in 2021.
Last week, law enforcement apprehended 48-year-old Delano Middleton in connection with an incident on October 23 at a Walmart located on Whitemarsh Island, just eight miles from Savannah, as initially reported by CrimeOnline.
The altercation reportedly began when 18-year-old J.T. Schroeder kicked Middleton’s shopping cart. The situation quickly escalated, leading to Middleton allegedly stabbing Schroeder several times.
Schroeder was rushed to a hospital by paramedics but, as reported by WTOC 11, he succumbed to his injuries the following day.
In a new development, Erica Young has revealed that Middleton allegedly attacked her with a knife while she was on duty at a U-Haul store on Ogeechee Road.
Young recounted how, in October 2021, Middleton entered the store, took keys from the counter, and attempted to steal a truck parked outside.
“I asked him did he needed help finding his vehicle, and he shoved a cart over on top of me and just started stabbing me,” Young said.
“When I was on the ground, he told me that he wanted to watch me bleed out. I’ve never met him before that day, never had any contact with him.”
Following a mental evaluation, a doctor found Middleton incompetent to stand trial. In 2023, he was ruled competent, but took a plea deal on an aggravated assault charge. A judge sentenced him to two years behind bars and eight years on probation.
Court records obtained by WJCL indicated that Middleton used a “six-inch foldable knife” during the U-Haul attack, before driving off in a truck he stole.
“Honestly, this is my true opinion on it,” Young told WTOC. “He got away with the stabbing of me, so he thought he could get away with it again.”
Chatham police have not released additional information regarding the Walmart incident, pending a full investigation.
Schroeder’s father, however, told WTOC that his son was “never, ever confrontational unless he was confronted first.”
“He was literally stabbed over ten times until he finally bled out and died,”his father said.
Middleton remains behind bars at the Chatham County Detention Center on murder charges. He is scheduled for a November 20 court appearance.
“The system failed that kid’s family,” Young said. “I’m so sorry for their loss.”
Check back for updates.
[Feature Photo via GoFundMe]
