Andrew Golden (murderer)

After the 1992 Lindhurst High School shooting that killed four people in Olivehurst, California, the massacre was the deadliest non-college school shooting in contemporary U.S. history until the April 1999 Columbine High School massacre.

As of 2024, it is currently the deadliest middle school shooting in U.S. history.

On the night before the shooting, Golden assisted Johnson in loading his mother's Dodge Caravan with camping supplies, snack foods, nine weapons (Remington 742 .30-06 rifle, Universal .30 M1 carbine replica, Ruger .44 Magnum rifle, Smith & Wesson .38 Special revolver, Double Deuce Buddie .22 caliber two-shot derringer, FIE .380 pistol, Star .380 pistol, Ruger Security Six .357 revolver, Davis Industries .38 two-shot derringer and a Charter Arms .38 Special revolver), all of which had been stolen from Golden's grandfather's house, and 2,000 rounds of ammunition.

The following morning, the boys rode in the van to Westside Middle School, arriving late after deliberately missing their bus.

Golden then pulled the fire alarm just after 12:30 p.m., during the beginning of fifth period, while Johnson took the weapons to the woods outside of the school.

Golden then ran back to the woods where Johnson had taken the weapons.

When children and teachers filed out of the school, the two boys opened fire, with officials stating that the shooting began at 12:41pm.

During the incident, many became confused initially with reports of shouting of "It's all fake", as friends of wounded students tried to evacuate their friends and teacher Shannon Wright used her body to protect a wounded student.

Another teacher had been checking off students on her class list, when she heard pops, "like firecrackers", and thought it was an ill-advised attempt to frighten the children, to potentially make them take the drill seriously.

A student reported that The Sounds were at first dismissed by some as construction workers had been working on the new fifth-grade building nearby.

Students who had initially evacuated for the drill were brought back into the school's gymnasium, where students could hear the bullets ricocheting off the outside bricks and walls.

Some victims were brought back inside by uninjured students and teachers, after a teacher opened the doors from the inside as they had automatically locked because of the fire alarm.

A student who had sought shelter in the school told a teacher with them that they believed the shooter was Mitchell Johnson, as they had been told by him not to come to school that day.

They killed four students and one teacher and wounded nine students and one teacher.

The five murdered were: Shannon Wright, 32 (teacher); Stephanie Johnson, 12 (no relation to Mitchell Johnson); Natalie Brooks, 11; Paige Ann Herring, 12; and Brittney Varner, 11.

All ten of those injured survived their injuries and among the wounded students was Tristan McGowan, Golden's cousin.

Golden and Johnson attempted to run back to the van and escape, but were later caught by the police.

They were apprehended about 10 minutes after the shooting began, according to a lieutenant with the Jonesboro Police Department.

The boys evidently planned to run away, as they had food, sleeping bags and survival gear in the van.

The incident was the third fatal mass shooting at an American school since October 1997, following the Pearl High and the Heath High School shootings.

Then-President Bill Clinton ordered Attorney General Janet Reno to organize experts on school violence to analyze the recent incidents, determine what they may have had in common and what steps could be taken to reduce the chance of a similar incident.

White ribbons were tied on tree trunks and other objects were left in memory of the victims.

The school installed a memorial bench outside the school that is carved with the date of the massacre.

A sundial memorial, installed in a park area behind the school, is engraved with the names of the victims.

The park area was designed as a memorial park based around the number five to commemorate the five dead victims, with five trees, five picnic tables, and five stepping-stones, along with the sundial.

During the trial, Johnson hung his head and read a letter of apology he had written to victims' families.

He said he had not been targeting anyone.

While in detention awaiting trial, Johnson wrote a letter that stated, "Hi. My name is Mitchell. My thoughts and prayers are with those people who were killed, or shot, and their families. I am really sad inside about everything. My thoughts and prayers are with those kids that I go to school with. I really want people to know the real Mitchell someday. Sincerely, Mitchell Johnson."

Due to their age, they were tried as juveniles, and were found guilty of five counts of murder.

Following their convictions, Johnson and Golden were taken by National Guard helicopter to Alexander, Arkansas, so they could be placed at the Arkansas Juvenile Assessment & Treatment Center (AJATC), the Arkansas Department of Human Services Youth Services Division's juvenile facility and the state's most secure juvenile facility.

The two youths were among the youngest people ever charged with murder in the United States.

The Jonesboro prosecutor later stated that were it not for their ages, he would have sought death sentences.

At the time, the minimum age for capital punishment was 16 due to Thompson v. Oklahoma.

On March 24, 1998, a school shooting occurred at Westside Middle School in unincorporated Craighead County, Arkansas near the city of Jonesboro.

Perpetrators Mitchell Johnson, 13, and Andrew Golden, 11, fatally shot four students and a teacher with multiple weapons, and both were arrested when they attempted to flee the scene.

Ten others were wounded.

Golden and Johnson were convicted of five murders and ten assaults, and were imprisoned until each turned 21 years of age.

In August 1998, both boys were sentenced to confinement until they reached the age of 21, which was the maximum sentence available under Arkansas law.

They would have served until age 18 had federal authorities not added additional confinement for weapons charges.

All death sentences for defendants under 18 were invalidated in 2005 by Roper v. Simmons.