Okla. contractor accused of embezzling thousands of dollars killed while shooting at ex’s family
09/01/2022 12:14 pm PDT
CIMARRON CITY, Okla. (TCD) -- A 47-year-old contractor accused of embezzling over $60,000 from multiple victims allegedly tried to gun down his ex-girlfriend’s family.
According to the affidavit filed on Aug. 25, Delbert Middleton, a contractor with a roofing and construction company, was allegedly paid to complete home builds, but the jobs were never finished. There were reportedly four victims in total.
An investigation was launched, and authorities dated the allegations against Middleton back to January 2021, the Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office said. Middleton was reportedly charged with four counts of embezzlement and one count of pattern of criminal offenses.
On Tuesday, Aug. 30, Middleton drove to his ex-girlfriend’s house near Cooksey Road and Meridian Avenue, KFOR-TV reports. At the home, he reportedly started shooting and then forced himself into the home, where a shootout ensued.
A resident inside the home allegedly fired back, and Middleton exited the house.
During the shooting, KFOR reports Middleton died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Logan County Sheriff Damon Devereaux told KFOR, "He showed up to conduct acts of evil, if you will."
Middleton and his girlfriend reportedly broke up earlier this year, and he allegedly kidnapped her and took her out of state. He was arrested for that crime but was bonded out of jail, KFOR reports.
After the alleged kidnapping, Middleton was reportedly ordered to wear an ankle monitor and to have no contact with his ex-girlfriend. According to KFOR, he was "off the grid" for approximately a month before he tried to shoot his girlfriend’s family earlier this week.
Prior to his death, the Attorney General’s Office said Middleton was facing up to 32 years in prison and up to $65,000 in fines for the embezzlement charges if convicted.
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