A late-night trip to Walmart turned deadly for an 18-year-old Georgia teen after what police describe as a petty dispute spiraled into a brutal stabbing.
According to the Chatham County Police Department, 18-year-old J.T. Schroeder was fatally stabbed on October 23 after allegedly kicking another man’s shopping cart as he left the store. The suspect, 48-year-old Delano Middleton, has since been arrested and charged with murder.
Authorities say Schroeder was found outside the Walmart with multiple stab wounds and lacerations. He was rushed to the hospital but died days later.
Police claim Middleton was exiting the store when Schroeder kicked his cart — but Schroeder’s family insists there’s more to the story.
“My son was never, ever confrontational unless he was confronted first,” the teen’s father, also named J.T., told local station WJCL. “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.”
A GoFundMe has since been set up to help cover funeral costs for the teen, described by friends as a “sweet soul” and “a loyal friend who didn’t deserve this.”
As of now, Middleton remains behind bars facing a murder charge. Court records show he has not yet entered a plea and does not currently have an attorney listed.
The shocking killing has left the community reeling — and raised questions about how a moment of teenage mischief could lead to such a horrific act of violence inside one of America’s busiest stores.
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Best wishes, Gale