Mitchell Johnson (murderer)
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Mitchell Johnson (born August 11, 1984) is an American murderer. Johnson (13 years old during the attack) along with middle school classmate Andrew Golden (then 11) ambushed teachers and fellow students in the backyard of the Jonesboro, Arkansas, USA elementary school on March 24, 1998, killing five and wounding ten people.
The attack occurred after Johnson's accomplice, Andrew Golden, had entered the school during the normal class hours and pulled a fire alarm. As the other students filed out of the building Golden rejoined Johnson behind cover and opened fire on the crowd with weapons stolen from family members. Johnson and Golden, both dressed in fatigues, gunned down 15 people, killing four female classmates and one female teacher.
Johnson and Golden were among the youngest people ever charged with capital murder in American history. Their crime occurred during the rash of schoolyard shooting culminating with the Columbine massacre. With the exception of that, Johnson and Golden took more lives than any "schoolyard shooter".
Johnson came from a troubled family. His parents had a bitter divorce and he lived with his mother and stepfather. Johnson's biological father had a violent temper and was prone to rages that traumatized the boy. There are rather conflicting versions about his true character prior to the killings. Adults who knew Mitchell describe him as well-behaved and respectful, he was active in his church and sang in choir. His mother Gretchen Woodard claimed he was very kind and loving to his two younger siblings. His schoolmates, however, tell a different story about a darker and more menacing side. They describe him as a braggart and a bully. He talked of belonging to a gang and once carved a girlfriends initials on his arm with a razor. He had given off ominous warning signs of what was to come telling of "having a lot of killing to do".
The prosecutor at trial later admitted that were it not for the ages of the accused, he would have sought the death sentence. Even the judge said "In this case the punishment will not fit the crime." Johnson and Golden caused such outrage that the laws in Arkansas were changed regarding juvenile offenders. Had the two committed their offense today, they could have both been sent away for life.
Mitchell Johnson was held in the state prison system for seven years on murder and firearms offenses. He was originally only able to be held until his 18th birthday but federal firearms charges allowed him to be held until he turned 21. He was released on his 21st birthday, August 11, 2005. In news reports, his mother said that he would not be returning to Jonesboro, but would enter the seminary instead.
A segment on the popular television show "American Justice" profiled this case. It was brought out that shortly before March 24, 1998, Mitchell had been accused of another disturbing crime. He had been charged with molesting a little girl.
