On a tragic Tuesday in Jonesboro, Arkansas, the community was shattered by an event that would leave an indelible mark on its history. On March 24, 1998, 11-year-old Britthney Varner, a female student at Westside Middle School, lost her life in a senseless act of violence. The day unfolded in chaos and confusion as two of her fellow students, aged 11 and 13, opened fire on their classmates and teachers.
Britthney was in the midst of her school day when the shooters, Mitchell Johnson and
Andrew Golden, triggered a fire alarm and began shooting at students and staff as they exited the building. In the ensuing horror, Britthney was struck by the gunfire. She was rushed to a local hospital where she underwent hours of life-saving surgery. For a brief period, her family held onto a sliver of hope, believing she had survived the initial surgery and was in recovery. However, their hopes were tragically dashed when doctors delivered the devastating news that they were unable to save her.
The perpetrators of the horrific act, Mitchell Johnson and Andrew Golden, were apprehended by law enforcement shortly after the shooting as they attempted to flee the scene. Due to their young ages, they were tried as juveniles and could not be charged as adults. Both were convicted of five counts of murder and ten counts of battery. They were sentenced to be confined in a juvenile detention facility until they reached the age of 21, the maximum penalty allowed under Arkansas law at the time for offenders their age. The case drew national attention and sparked a debate on juvenile justice and gun violence in the United States.
