Mitchell Johnson

Mass Murderer

Mitchell Johnson and the 1998 Westside Middle School Shooting

Overview

On March 24, 1998, Mitchell Johnson, aged 13, along with his accomplice Andrew Golden, aged 11, carried out a deadly school shooting at Westside Middle School in Jonesboro, Arkansas. The two boys had planned the attack meticulously, stealing firearms from Golden’s grandfather’s house. They pulled the fire alarm to lure students and staff outside, then opened fire from a wooded area near the school.

The Crime

The shooting began shortly after the false fire alarm was triggered at approximately 12:40 PM. As students and teachers exited the building, Johnson and Golden, positioned at a pre-selected location with rifles and handguns, began shooting. The attack lasted only a few minutes but left deep scars in the community. The two boys fled the scene in a van loaded with camping gear and food, intending to escape after the shooting, but they were quickly apprehended by police without further incident.

Victims

Five people were killed in the attack, and ten others were injured. The victims were mostly young students and one beloved teacher who tried to protect her class. The tragedy shocked the nation and remains one of the most notorious school shootings involving such young perpetrators.

• Shannon Wright – 32-year-old teacher, killed while shielding a student from gunfire.
• Paige Ann Herring – 12-year-old student, killed in the schoolyard.
• Stephanie Johnson – 12-year-old student, fatally shot outside the school.
• Brittney Varner – 11-year-old student, killed in the attack.
• Natalie Brooks – 12-year-old student, killed during the shooting.

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Confirmed Victims: (5)

Natalie Brooks 11 yr old Female

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1998 Westside Middle School shooting - Wikipedia

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