Crime
Former Teacher James Andrew McGann Arrested Mid-Haircut for Double Homicide at Devil’s Den State Park
LOWELL, Ark. — A 28-year-old former elementary school teacher, James Andrew McGann, has been arrested and charged with two counts of Capital Murder in connection with the brutal killings of an Arkansas couple at Devil’s Den State Park.
The Arkansas State Police (ASP) confirmed that McGann, a resident of Springdale, was taken into custody without incident at approximately 4:57 p.m. on Wednesday, July 30, at a business in Springdale.
Authorities say he is responsible for the double homicide that occurred on Saturday, July 26, at the popular hiking destination in West Fork, Arkansas.
The victims, 43-year-old Clinton David Brink and 41-year-old Cristen Amanda Brink, were fatally stabbed while hiking with their two daughters, ages 7 and 9.
The children were unharmed and are currently in the care of family members.
Investigators believe the parents were attacked in an apparent attempt to protect their children from a potential threat posed by McGann.
Arrest at Local Business: Hair Salon Becomes Crime Scene
According to authorities, McGann was apprehended inside a salon in Springdale.
Adriana Ruiz Avalos, the hairstylist who was attending to McGann at the time, described the unsettling moment law enforcement entered.
“I was in the middle of cutting his hair when detectives came in and got him,” she told Channel2 NOW. “I was shaking. They told me not to sweep up the hair—they might need it as evidence.”
Police also confiscated the chair McGann had been sitting in during the arrest.
Disturbing Past: Former Teacher with Alleged Misconduct
The arrest has raised troubling questions about McGann’s background.
Before relocating to Arkansas, McGann worked as a 4th-grade teacher at Donald Elementary in Lewisville, Texas.
He allegedly resigned under pressure after concerns about inappropriate behavior toward young girls in his classroom. Rather than facing disciplinary action, McGann was reportedly allowed to leave quietly, avoiding formal consequences.
Shortly after, he secured a position at Bayyari Elementary School in Springdale, Arkansas, under the name “Drew McGann.” On June 12, the school publicly welcomed him via social media, introducing him as a new third-grade teacher. “I am thrilled to be part of the Bayyari team this year,” he wrote in a post. “I love going to concerts, working out, and being outdoors.”
His ability to obtain new employment under a variation of his name and without red flags being raised has drawn concern from parents and education officials alike.
There is growing scrutiny over whether McGann intentionally rebranded himself to distance from his troubling past—potentially putting more children at risk.
Timeline of Professional Background
Originally from Sand Springs, Oklahoma, McGann graduated from Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education.
According to past social media posts, he previously worked as a substitute teacher in Tulsa County and completed student teaching at Broken Arrow Public Schools in 2022.
Court Proceedings & Ongoing Investigation
Following his arrest, McGann was booked into the Washington County Jail, where he remains in custody.
He is scheduled to make his first court appearance on August 1, according to Washington County Prosecutor Brandon Carter.
The investigation into the motive behind the attack is ongoing, and state police are continuing to gather evidence.
Authorities have not confirmed whether the children were the intended targets, though early findings suggest the parents were killed while attempting to shield them.
This case has not only left a family shattered but has also prompted renewed calls for stricter oversight in teacher hiring and background checks across state lines.
Crime
Venezuelan national Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis shot in the leg by an immigration agent in Minneapolis
On January 14, 2025, federal law enforcement personnel were engaged in a targeted enforcement operation involving Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis, a Venezuelan national who has been present in the United States since 2022.
The operation escalated into a high-speed pursuit, a physical confrontation, and an ambush by multiple subjects, necessitating the use of a defensive firearm discharge by a federal agent.
At approximately 6:50 PM, federal officers initiated a targeted traffic stop of a vehicle operated by Sosa-Celis.
The subject refused to comply with law enforcement commands and attempted to flee the scene.
During the pursuit, the subject’s vehicle collided with a stationary, parked car.
Following the collision, the subject abandoned the vehicle and fled the scene on foot.
A federal agent pursued the suspect on foot and successfully intercepted him. As the agent attempted to effect an arrest, the subject became combative, resulting in a violent struggle on the ground.
During this confrontation, two additional male subjects emerged from a nearby residence to intervene.
These individuals reportedly ambushed the agent, utilizing a snow shovel and a broom handle to strike the officer.
The situation escalated when the primary suspect, Sosa-Celis, regained his footing and joined the two additional subjects in the assault.
Reports indicate the suspect struck the agent with a blunt object (identified as either the shovel or broom handle).
Citing an immediate threat to his life while being outnumbered and actively assaulted by three individuals, the agent discharged his service weapon in self-defense.
The discharge struck Sosa-Celis in the lower extremity (leg). Following the shot, all three suspects retreated into a nearby apartment complex and initiated a barricade situation.
Following a brief standoff, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) successfully secured the perimeter and apprehended all three individuals without further injury.
Both the federal agent and Sosa-Celis were transported to a local medical facility for treatment.
Images from the scene showed Sosa-Celis conscious and alert during transport.
All three subjects involved in the assault are currently in the custody of ICE.
Further charges related to the assault on a federal officer and resisting arrest are pending review by the U.S. Attorney’s Office.