A Missouri man who committed a school shooting when he was 11 years old has died in a car crash. Andrew Golden, who legally changed his name to Drew Douglas Grant, was driving on Highway 167 in Arkansas when a Chevrolet Tahoe crossed over the median, striking his car head-on. Golden and the driver of the Tahoe were both killed while three others were injured and transported to the hospital. Their conditions were not released by authorities.
Golden spent nine years in prison after killing four students and a teacher at Jonesboro Westside Middle School with his 13-year-old classmate Mitchell Johnson on March 24, 1998. Golden and Johnson were tried as juveniles and found guilty of five counts of murder. They were ordered to be jailed until they turned 21.
Golden was unable to stay out of trouble after he was released. He changed his name and attempted to purchase a gun in 2008. His application was denied after the background check revealed his real identity and authorities discovered he lied on the form.
Johnson also had run-ins with the law after he got out of jail. He was arrested following a traffic stop in 2007 after being caught with a gun and marijuana. While out on bond, he was arrested again on suspicion of using a stolen credit card and possession of marijuana. He was sentenced to 12 years behind bars and was released from prison in 2015.
Mitch Wright, whose wife Shannon was killed in the shooting, issued a statement about Golden's death to KAIT.
"The news of Andrew Golden's death today fills our family with mixed emotions as I'm sure it does with the other families and students of the Westside shooting. Mostly sadness. Sadness for his wife and son, sadness that they too will feel the loss that we have felt. To his family, we are so sorry for your loss. We are praying that his wife and child will make a full recovery."