Andrew Golden

Mass Murderer

Andrew Golden and the 1998 Westside Middle School Massacre

Background

Andrew Douglas Golden was an 11-year-old student at Westside Middle School when he participated in one of the most notorious school shootings of the 1990s. On March 24, 1998, Golden and 13-year-old Mitchell Scott Johnson carried out a planned armed attack at the school in unincorporated Craighead County, Arkansas, just outside Jonesboro. Four students and one teacher were killed, while nine students and another teacher were wounded. Golden was born on May 25, 1986, in Jonesboro, Arkansas. He came from a family familiar with firearms and hunting. His father and grandfather reportedly taught him how to shoot when he was young, and his grandfather worked as a wildlife conservation officer. Golden had access to his grandfather's firearms and understood how to operate several types of guns before the massacre occurred. Golden and Johnson attended the same school and rode the same school bus, although accounts indicated that they were not especially close friends before planning the attack. Johnson was two years older and was reportedly angry over problems involving girls at the school. The precise extent to which Golden shared Johnson's grievances remains unclear, but the evidence established that Golden knowingly helped obtain the weapons, prepare for the attack and lure students and teachers outside.

Planning the Attack

On the evening of March 23, 1998, Golden helped Johnson gather firearms, ammunition, food, clothing and camping equipment. Numerous weapons were taken from Golden's grandfather's residence, including rifles, revolvers and semiautomatic pistols. The boys placed the weapons and approximately 2,000 rounds of ammunition inside a Dodge Caravan belonging to Johnson's family. The collection of food, sleeping bags and outdoor supplies indicated that Golden and Johnson expected to flee after the shooting and remain away from authorities for an extended period. Their preparation showed that the massacre was not a sudden or spontaneous act. They had selected weapons, accumulated ammunition, arranged transportation and developed a method of drawing people out of the school building. There were also warning signs before the attack. Johnson had reportedly made threatening comments and told at least one student not to attend school that day. Those statements were not taken seriously enough to prevent the shooting. Golden's specific statements before the massacre were less extensively documented, but his actions demonstrated his direct participation in the plan.

The Westside Middle School Shooting

On the morning of Tuesday, March 24, 1998, Golden and Johnson deliberately missed their regular school bus. They traveled to Westside Middle School in the loaded van and arrived after classes had begun. The school was located along Arkansas Highway 91 in Craighead County, near Jonesboro. Shortly after 12:30 p.m., during the beginning of the fifth class period, Golden entered the school and pulled a fire alarm. Students, teachers and staff members began evacuating the building according to normal emergency procedures. Golden then left the building and joined Johnson in a wooded area overlooking the school grounds. The boys had positioned firearms in the woods and were dressed in clothing suitable for concealment. As students and teachers emerged from the school, Golden and Johnson opened fire from their concealed position. The victims had been led outside by the alarm and were exposed in the open area between the building and the woods. The attackers fired a combined total of approximately 22 rounds. Four young girls were killed. Teacher Shannon Wright was fatally wounded while attempting to protect students from the gunfire. Ten other people, consisting of nine students and one teacher, were wounded but survived. One of the injured students was Tristan McGowan, who was Golden's cousin. When the shooting ended, Golden and Johnson ran toward the van in an attempt to escape. Police officers responding to the school intercepted and arrested them approximately ten minutes after the attack began. The van contained weapons, ammunition, food and survival equipment, further confirming that the boys had planned to flee the area. ...

Confirmed Victims: (5)

Natalie Brooks 11 yr old Female

Andrew Golden