Mitchell Scott Johnson

Case record: Mitchell Scott Johnson

Background

Mitchell Scott Johnson was born August 11, 1984. He lived in Jonesboro with his mother, stepfather, and his brother. His parents divorced when he was seven, and his mother remarried to Terry Woodward, an inmate at the prison where she was a guard. Johnson had a good relationship with his stepfather and siblings. Adults who knew him described him as quiet and respectful. He faithfully attended church and sang in choir.

Fellow students described a darker side. They said he was a braggart and a bully. They reported that he talked of wanting to belong to gangs and smoke marijuana. Students also said he spoke of “having a lot of killing to do” and held a bitter grudge against Shannon Wright, a teacher. His classmates commented that he had a nearly obsessive fascination with rap music, firearms, and violent television shows.

Following the shooting, Johnson’s attorney claimed that he had been sexually abused when he was 6 and 7 years old by a “family member of the day care where he was placed.” One year prior to the shooting, Johnson, then 12, was charged with molesting a 3-year-old girl while visiting Minnesota with his family, but the record of the case was expunged because of Johnson’s age.

In the summer of 1997, during a visit to his uncle’s house, Johnson sexually molested a two-year-old girl.

Johnson was described as “quiet” and “respectful” by adults, while classmates described him as “a bully,” and they reported he had begun bragging about gang involvement and threats.

Johnson also had a connection in custody and confinement with Colby Brooks (no relation to victim Natalie Brooks). They had been good friends before the shooting and reunited while incarcerated.

The offence

On March 23, 1998, Johnson and his middle school classmate and cousin Andrew Golden loaded Johnson’s mother’s van with weapons, snack foods, stuffed animals, and camping supplies, and went to sleep.

On March 24, 1998, Johnson stole his mother’s keys and drove to the school with Golden. Johnson parked the van in the middle of the woods outside the backyard of the school, planning to return there once the massacre was over.

Johnson sat on a hill in the backyard of the school while Golden went inside and pulled the fire alarm. As students and teachers filed out of the building believing it was a routine fire drill, Johnson and Golden opened fire. After firing for five minutes, four students and a teacher (all female) were killed, and ten more people were wounded. In other parts of the account, the firing duration was reported as four minutes, and the total wounded count was reported as ten.

After the police arrived, Johnson and Golden ran into the woods back to the van. However, they failed to outrun the officers that were pursuing them, and both were arrested.

The attack used a false fire alarm to lure students and faculty out. Students were later described as having been ambushed after the alarm forced an exit.

Johnson and Golden stole seven weapons over the course of a month from Johnson’s stepfather’s firearm collection.

During the planning phase, Johnson reportedly started planning the attack at least one month in advance. The weapons were loaded into the van on the night of March 23, 1998.

Victims and casualties

The deaths included:

• Natalie Brooks, age 11
• Paige Ann Herring, age 12
• Stephanie Johnson, age 12 (no relation to Mitchell Johnson)
• Brittany R. Varner, age 11
• Shannon Wright, age 32 (teacher)

The shooting wounded ten people.

In one account, the firing killed five and wounded ten. Another account also described the dead as four students and one teacher, with ten other people wounded.

Investigation

Police apprehended Johnson and Golden after the shooting near the school area. Authorities described the boys as dressed in camouflage clothing and laying in wait in a wooded area behind the school after someone, perhaps a third person, set off a fire alarm.

Investigators reported that the boys were running toward a white van found about a half-mile away from the school containing additional guns and ammunition. The van was impounded by police.

A prosecutor later released part of the case file, and investigative reports released by prosecutors revealed statements made by Johnson moments after his arrest.

Arrest

Johnson and Golden were arrested after they returned to the van and failed to outrun pursuing officers.

At the time of arrest, investigators John Varner and Jon Moore handcuffed Johnson and Andrew near a county road behind the school moments after the shootings. Investigators reported an officer asked “Why?” and Mitchell Johnson responded with explanations.

One reported exchange included:

• Deputy Terry McNatt said he heard an officer ask, “Why?” and Mitchell Johnson replied: “Andrew was mad at a teacher,” and “He was tired of their crap.”
• Arkansas State Police investigator Rick Dickinson said he also heard an officer ask “Why?” and Dickinson reported that Johnson replied: “Anger, I guess.”
• Dickinson also reported that Johnson later said: “He [Andrew] asked me if I would help him do it, and I said ‘Yes.’”

During trial-related accounts, there was also a description that Johnson had “hung his head” and read a letter of apology he had written to victims’ families.

Trial

Johnson and Golden were held in jail for four months, and the trial began on August 11, 1998, which was Johnson’s 14th birthday.

Because of their age, they were tried as juveniles, and they were found guilty on five counts of murder, ten counts of attempted murder, and seven counts of illegal firearm possession.

The maximum sentence that could be imposed on a minor under Arkansas law was to be held until their 18th birthday. This outraged many residents of Jonesboro and led to changes in laws in Arkansas regarding the prosecution of minors. However, firearm counts were also described as federal, so they could be held until age 21.

The media reported that both youths wept in custody and showed remorse. Both asked for a Bible and a minister. The guards at the Jonesboro jail told reporters this was only an affectation. The guards reported that the boys slept and ate well and, for the most part, seemed unaware of the severity of their crime, and that they acted that way only when their parents were present.

During the trial, Johnson read a letter of apology to victims’ families. Johnson said:

“We were not going to shoot at anyone in particular,”
“I really thought we would scare them. I am sorry. I hope anyone who listens to these word knows how truly sorry I am.”

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.”

Sentencing in the juvenile system and related constraints

After the convictions, they were taken by National Guard helicopter to Alexander, Arkansas, the location of the Youth Services Division’s juvenile facility and the state's most secure juvenile facility.

Sentencing

Under Arkansas law as described, they could be held until 18. The firearm counts were federal and allowed confinement until age 21.

Johnson was released on August 11, 2005, on his 21st birthday.

Appeals

No appeals were described.

Outcome

Johnson was released on August 11, 2005.

Golden was to be released on May 25, 2007.

Golden’s exact whereabouts were described as unknown until he applied for a concealed weapon permit in Arkansas on October 7, 2008 under the name he used, Drew Douglas Grant. His application was denied by Arkansas state police, which noted that Golden had lied on the application about his previous residences and claimed it would be illegal for Golden to own or possess a firearm, though the reason for this was unclear. Fingerprint records were said to have tied Andrew Golden to Grant during the background check for the permit. Golden completed a civil case deposition on May 6, 2008.

Aftermath: post-release and subsequent legal trouble

Johnson was allowed to buy and own firearms after his release on August 11, 2005.

In interviews with Johnson’s mother, she said that Johnson planned to leave Jonesboro and become a Baptist minister. In a deposition taken for the civil case, Johnson stated that he wanted to become a Seventh Day Adventist Minister, but he had not found a Seventh Day Adventist church that he liked.

January 1, 2007 arrest in Fayetteville, Arkansas

On January 1, 2007, Johnson was arrested after a traffic stop in Fayetteville, Arkansas on misdemeanor charges of carrying a weapon and possession of marijuana. The weapon was described as a loaded 9 mm pistol, and the marijuana was described as 21.2 grams.

Though the van Johnson was riding in was registered to him, the driver was 22-year-old Justin Trammell. Johnson and Trammell reportedly met at Alexander Youth Services correctional facility in Alexander, Arkansas, where Trammell was incarcerated after pleading guilty to the 1999 crossbow murder of his father, committed when Trammell was 15. The pair were described as roommates and they provided officers with the same Fayetteville address.

Trammell was cited for careless driving and released. Johnson was arrested for possession of marijuana and a loaded weapon and later released on a $1,000 bond. He had a court appearance on January 26, 2007 at the Washington County, Arkansas courthouse.

October 24, 2007 federal indictment and trial

Johnson was indicted by a federal grand jury on October 24, 2007 for possession of a firearm while either using or addicted to a controlled substance. The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Arkansas reported that Johnson pleaded not guilty and was released on a $5,000 bond.

Johnson’s trial began on January 28, 2008. After two days of testimony from the prosecution and the defense witnesses, Johnson was found guilty on a charge of possessing a weapon while being a drug user.

February 2008 arrest

In February 2008, just days after his conviction, Johnson was arrested again for possession of marijuana at the convenience store he worked at and on suspicion of using a stolen credit card.

September 2008 federal sentencing

In September 2008, U.S. District Judge Jimm Larry Hendren sentenced Mitchell Johnson to four years in prison on the weapon and drug charges. In sentencing, the judge expressed dismay that Johnson had not taken advantage of a chance he had to go straight. The judge told him:

“No matter your sentence, you still have a life, those killed in 1998 do not”

October 7, 2008 guilty plea and November 14, 2008 state sentencing

On October 7, 2008, Johnson pleaded guilty to a felony theft charge and misdemeanor possession of marijuana.

Johnson admitted that he stole a debit card left by a disabled man at the Bentonville gas station where he worked and subsequently used it to purchase a meal at a local Burger King. He also admitted that, at the time of his arrest, he was in possession of marijuana.

On November 14, 2008, Johnson, now 24 years old, was sentenced to 12 years in prison for the theft charge and misdemeanor possession charges. The sentence of 12 years was described as chosen because Johnson technically had no criminal record from the Jonesboro shooting, although he could have faced up to 30 years.

January 23, 2009 additional sentencing

On January 23, 2009, Johnson was sentenced to six additional years in prison for an additional charge of theft by receiving and financial identity fraud for using the stolen card to purchase a meal from a local Burger King.

A Circuit Judge William Storey told Johnson:

“You continue to run afoul of the law. I am hopeful this is the last time.”

This was described as bringing Johnson’s combined state sentences to 18 years. Johnson was described as needing to complete his federal sentence of four years before serving his 18-year state sentence, and he was described as likely remaining incarcerated well into his 30s.

Other details

Additional account details about the school attack

In one account, teachers and students marched outside when the fire alarm went off shortly after 12:30 p.m., and firing lasted four minutes, followed by casualties.

There was also an account that the group fired for five minutes, after which four students and a teacher were killed and ten more people were wounded.

In one account, there was a claim of 27 shots and that 15 bodies lay bleeding on the pavement, with police quickly apprehending Johnson and Andrew after firing.

Shannon Wright and teacher accounts

English teacher Shannon Wright, age 32, died after surgery for wounds to her chest and abdomen. Accounts described her as shielding a student from bullets and taking bullets herself.

One quote attributed to the Rev. Jerry Jolly, described as a chaplain for the Arkansas State Police, stated:

“The shooters have been apprehended and your parents are on their way. You’re safe.”

Additional injuries and named injured persons

An account described that teacher Shannon Wright was shot twice. It also described other injuries including Crystal Barnes, Candace Porter, and Ashley Betts.

Another account described multiple specifics about injuries including Whitney Irving and sixth-grade student Emma Pittman. It also described Sara Lynette Thetford as visiting at the hospital and being listed as in stable condition.

National Guard transfer

After convictions, Johnson and Golden were taken by National Guard helicopter to Alexander, Arkansas for confinement.

Confession and remorse statements attributed to others

Doug Golden, Andrew Golden’s grandfather, was quoted as saying that his grandson confessed to much of what happened next, including that “Drew” Golden set off the fire alarm and that the marksmen started firing after the quarry was flushed out.

Johnson’s father Scott Johnson was quoted as saying:

“My son was remorseful,”

and he was also reported to have said:

“kept saying he was sorry. He was sorry, and he wishes he could take it back.”

Another account attributed to Golden’s relatives and court behavior described Andrew as being more unemotional and requesting to sit with his grandmother.

Release and firearm rights after release

Johnson’s release on August 11, 2005 was described as being on his 21st birthday due to federal gun crimes, and he was described as allowed to buy and own firearms.

Prepared materials and stolen items (as described in accounts)

Accounts described a gray 1991 Dodge Caravan and various food items found in a toolbox in the van including cans of beans, soup, fruit, dried beef strips, tuna, crackers, snacks, and candy. Additional items described included weapons, ammunition, camping supplies, and stuffed animals.

Accounts also described the van as containing backwoods gear including field rations, sleeping bags, forest netting, and hunting knives, along with dolls and a stuffed pink bunny rabbit.

People in the record

• Johnson’s cousin and co-defendant: Andrew Golden
• Stepfather: Terry Woodard
• Mother: Gretchen Woodard (as referenced in family details)
• Victim teacher: Shannon Wright, age 32
• Victims: Natalie Brooks (11), Paige Ann Herring (12), Stephanie Johnson (12), Brittany R. Varner (11), Shannon Wright (32)
• Additional named persons in legal trouble: Justin Trammell, and Colby Brooks (no relation to victim Natalie Brooks)
• Judges and prosecutors named: Jimm Larry Hendren; William Storey; Circuit-Chancery Judge Ralph Wilson Jr.; prosecutor Brent Davis; Deputy prosecutor Mike Walden; Sheriff Dale Haas; Governor Mike Huckabee; Attorney General Winston Bryant; U.S. Attorney Paula Casey; Judge Jimm Larry Hendren again in sentencing; Circuit Judge William Storey again in state sentencing

Notable relationships and identifying details

The record distinguished Stephanie Johnson as a victim with no relation to Mitchell Johnson. It also distinguished Colby Brooks (no relation to victim Natalie Brooks).