Mitchell Johnson and the 1998 Westside Middle School Massacre
Background
Mitchell Scott Johnson was a 13-year-old student when he and 11-year-old Andrew Douglas Golden carried out a carefully planned mass shooting at Westside Middle School near Jonesboro, Arkansas. The attack occurred on March 24, 1998, and resulted in the deaths of four students and one teacher. Nine students and another teacher were wounded.
Johnson was born on August 11, 1984, in Rochester, Minnesota. After his parents divorced, he moved with his mother and brother to the Jonesboro area. He attended Westside Middle School and was remembered by some adults as polite and quiet. Other students, however, later described disturbing statements he allegedly made before the massacre, including threats toward classmates and warnings that something violent was going to happen.
Although Johnson and Golden were not generally described as close friends, they knew each other from school and rode the same school bus. Golden had experience handling firearms and knew where weapons were stored at his family's properties. Together, the boys developed a plan to obtain guns, lure students and teachers outside the school, open fire from a concealed position and then escape.
Preparation for the Attack
On the evening before the massacre, Johnson and Golden gathered firearms and ammunition taken from Golden's family. The weapons included rifles, revolvers and semiautomatic pistols. Investigators also found a large quantity of ammunition, reportedly numbering approximately 2,000 rounds.
The boys loaded the weapons into a Dodge Caravan along with food, clothing, sleeping bags and other supplies. The presence of camping equipment and provisions indicated that they expected to flee after the shooting and remain away from home for an extended period.
On the morning of March 24, 1998, Johnson and Golden deliberately missed their normal school bus. They used the van to travel to Westside Middle School, arriving after classes had begun. They parked near a wooded area overlooking the school grounds and carried the guns, ammunition and other equipment into the trees.
The Fire Alarm
Shortly after 12:30 p.m., during the beginning of the fifth class period, Golden entered the school and activated a fire alarm. Johnson remained in the wooded area with the weapons. Golden then returned to Johnson's position as students, teachers and other employees began leaving the building in accordance with the school's fire-evacuation procedures.
The alarm caused large numbers of people to assemble outside in exposed areas. Many initially believed they were participating in a routine drill. Teachers attempted to organize their classes and account for students while the two boys watched from concealment approximately 100 yards away.
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