Westside Middle School Massacre

Mitchell Johnson and Andrew Golden were middle school students when they committed what became known as the Westside Middle School Massacre in March 1998. Four students and a teacher died and the shooting wounded 10 other people. Mitchell was 13-years-old while Andrew was just 11-years-old.

Mitchell Johnson Background

Mitchell lived in Jonesboro with his mother and stepfather, a former prison inmate who his mother met while working as a guard. His mother and stepfather described him as a good kid who was quiet and shy but students said he bullied others, wanted to join a street gang, and often told them (jokingly, they thought) that he had “a lot of killing to do.” He also held a grudge against his English teacher, Shannon Wright. Mitchell enjoyed firearms and had quite a fascination with them.

In 1997, Mitchell was charged with molesting a 3-year-old girl during a family trip to Minnesota. Due to his young age, the case was expunged. Lawyers claim that Mitchell was abused at the age of 6 by a family member.

Andrew Golden Background

Andrew also lived with his parents in Jonesboro. He also enjoyed guns, as did his family. His father gifted him with his first gun at 6-years-old. Andrew did not get along with other kids and often engaged in fistfights with them. Students at the school said he cursed and bullied other people. One student claimed he shot her cat to death with a BB gun.

A Plan to Kill

On March 23, 1998, Mitchell and Andrew loaded his mother’s Dodge Caravan with snacks, camping supplies, and an arsenal of weapons.

The next day, Mitchell stole the keys to the van and drove to the school with Golden. He parked the van in the woods at the backside of the school. The boys planned to return to the van once they shot up the school.

Andrew walked inside the school while Mitchell sat on a hill in the back of the school. Andrew pulled the fire alarm then ran to the hill with his friend. Once the schoolyard filled with teachers and students who had no idea anything suspicious was taking place, Mitchell and Andrew opened fire.

The boys fired their weapons for four minutes, striking four students and a teacher who died, as well as 10 other people who survived their injuries.

Kids Taken Into Custody

Police arrived on the scene and quickly caught up to the boys who attempted to flee back into the woods. They were arrested and taken into custody.

Mitchell apologized to the victims' families during his trial. He said that he did not want to kill anyone, but only scare them.

Boys Tried in Juvenile Court

The boys were tried in juvenile court, each found guilty of five counts of murder. The boys were taken into the Youth Service Division’s custody and transpired to a secure facility.

Release From Custody & Life After Shooting

Mitchell was released in 2006 on his 21st birthday, giving him less than two years per murder.

Mitchell led a life of crime after his release from the detention center. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison plus an additional six years in prison by age 24 for various charges, including possession of a firearm, marijuana possession, and theft. He was released to a Texas Rehabilitation program in 2015.

Andrew was released from the custody of the youth detention facility in 2007 on his 21st birthday. Little information about his life after this time is known. He did change his name to Drew Grant. The information was kept confidential under a gag order for several years but the judge eventually lifted the order. Andrew died in a head-on collision in 2019.