Westside Middle School massacre
| Westside Middle School massacre | |
|---|---|
| Location | Jonesboro, Arkansas, United States |
| Date | Tuesday, March 24, 1998 12:40 p.m. |
Attack type | School shooting, spree killing, mass murder |
| Weapons | Remington Model 742 (.30-06) Universal M1 Carbine Ruger rifle (.44 Magnum) |
| Deaths | 5 |
| Injured | 10 |
| Perpetrators | Mitchell Johnson and Andrew Golden |
The Westside Middle School massacre was an incident of a school shooting that occurred on March 24, 1998, in Jonesboro, Arkansas, United States. A total of 5 people were killed; four female students and a teacher, and 10 were injured; nine students and one teacher. The perpetrators were two students, 13-year-old Mitchell Johnson, and 11-year-old Andrew Golden, who were shooting in an ambush style from the woods in camouflaged clothes.
The massacre
| Fatalities |
| 1. Natalie Brooks, age 11, student |
| 2. Paige Ann Herring, age 12, student |
| 3. Stephanie Johnson, age 12, student |
| 4. Brittheny Rachel Varner, age 11, student |
| 5. Shannon Wright, age 32, teacher |
On the night before the shooting, Golden assisted Johnson in loading his mother's Dodge Caravan with camping supplies, snack foods, and seven weapons (two semi-automatic rifles, one bolt-action rifle and four handguns) which had been stolen from Golden's grandfather's house.
The following morning, the boys drove in the van to Westside Middle School. As they arrived, Golden pulled the fire alarm 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. The boys killed four students and one teacher, and wounded ten others. Then Golden and Johnson attempted to run back to the van and escape, but were captured by police. They evidently planned to run away, as they had food, sleeping bags and survival gear in their van.
Imprisonment
The two youths were among the youngest ever charged with murder in American history. The Jonesboro prosecutor later stated that were it not for their ages, he would have sought a death sentence for the pair. In August 1998 they were both sentenced to confinement until they reached the age of 18, the maximum sentence available under Arkansas law. They would have served until only age 18 had federal authorities not added additional confinement for weapons charges. (Both were confined until age 21.) Judge Ralph Wilson commented, "this is a case where the punishment will not fit the crime." This case led to a wide public outcry for tougher sentencing laws pertaining to juvenile offenders. Since then, the laws regarding young offenders have changed in Arkansas. Had Johnson and Golden committed their crimes several years later, they could have both been charged as adults and received life sentences.
Johnson was released from custody on August 11, 2005. Golden was released on May 25, 2007. Many members of the Jonesboro community have since expressed outrage, citing the facts that the killers will not be placed under any supervision and will be able to legally purchase firearms.
Later legal issues
Mitchell Johnson was arrested on January 1, 2007, while riding in a van with his roommate, Justin Trammell. In 1999, Trammell had been convicted in Benton County, Arkansas for killing his father with a crossbow. Trammell was the first youth in Arkansas convicted under the Extended Juvenile Adjudication Act. The law allows for combined juvenile and adult sentences upon conviction of those younger than 18. It was passed in response to the Jonesboro school shootings. Johnson was arrested on misdemeanor charges of drug possession and carrying a prohibited weapon (a loaded 9mm pistol). [1]
Preventing School Violence
Preventing school violence before it happens is easier and less expensive than dealing with it after it happens. There are many contributing causes to school violence and these contributing causes also cause other social problem including drug abuse and school drop out rates. The leading contributing causes include abuse at home that leads to dysfunctional behavior and bullying. When violence is not addressed early it often escalates. In order to solve these problems in the most effective way possible researchers believe it is necessary to address all the contributing causes. This means that if people solve School violence problems they will also solve other related problems both in and out of school. Some of the contributing causes happen off the school grounds so this should be a community effort. Researchers believe the most important way of preventing school violence is proper education at a young age. Studies have indicated that by third grade a pattern of learning develops that lasts through high school. [2] [3] Parents and teachers teach children to respect each other by treating them with respect and setting a good example. Another idea which has long been popular is creating and enforcing rules limiting the kind or degree of force students are allowed to use in various situations, e.g., self defense vs. running away, etc. [4] [5] [6] [7][8][9] [10]
See also
References
- ^ Bradford, Michelle; and Kenneth Heard. Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 10 January 2007.
- ^ Dan Kindlon and Michael Thompson, "Raising Cain: protecting the emotional life of boys" 1999 p.24
- ^ K.L. Alexandre and D.R. Etwisle "Achievement in the first two years of school: patterns and processes" Monographs of the society for research in child development 53, 2 (1988) serial 218
- ^ Alice Miller: The Drama of the Gifted Child 1981 p. xv
- ^ Gavin de Becker, Protecting the gift: keeping children and teenagers safe (and parents sane) 1999
- ^ Brooks Brown and Rob Merritt, No easy answers: the truth behind death at Columbine 2002
- ^ James Garbarino and Ellen deLara: "And words can hurt forever: how to protect adolescents from bullying, harassment, and emotional violence" 2002
- ^ Joanne Scaglione: Bully-proofing children 2006
- ^ James Garbarino: Lost Boys 1999
- ^ Dan Kindlon and Michael Thompson, "Raising Cain: protecting the emotional life of boys" 1999
External links
- From Wild Talk and Friendship To Five Deaths in a Schoolyard, The New York Times (March 29, 1998)
Killer LocatedArkansas Times(4/24/2008) - The Burning QuestionArkansas Times(12/4/2008)
- A Boy Killer SpeaksArkansas Times(12/4/2008)