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
Angela Johnson and Her Son DeAngelo Johnson Killed After Shooting Inside Home in Chicago, Mother’s Boyfriend in Custody
CHICAGO — A 47-year-old mother and her 27-year-old son were fatally shot inside a residence in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood on the West Side late Thursday night, September 24, 2026, according to Chicago police.
The victims were identified as Angela Johnson, 47, and DeAngelo Johnson, 27. Police said a suspect, identified as Angela Johnson’s boyfriend, was taken into custody following the shooting.
The deadly shooting happened in the 800 block of North Parkside Avenue at approximately 10:43 p.m. Witnesses reported hearing gunshots coming from the basement of the residence and called 911.
When Chicago police officers arrived, they found the two victims suffering from gunshot wounds.
Angela Johnson was found in the basement with a gunshot wound to her chest. Police-radio traffic indicated she had been shot on the right side of her chest.
DeAngelo Johnson was found on the first floor with multiple gunshot wounds. Radio traffic indicated that he had suffered two gunshot wounds to his back.
Both victims were initially unresponsive and in critical condition. Emergency personnel performed CPR on DeAngelo Johnson before both victims were transported to Mount Sinai Hospital, where they were pronounced dead.
According to police-radio traffic, one victim was pronounced dead at approximately 11:18 p.m., while the male victim was pronounced dead around 11:21 p.m.
Investigators found extensive evidence inside the residence, including approximately 23 shell casings in a basement bedroom. Additional shell casings were reportedly recovered in other areas of the basement, including the stairway, main room and bedroom.
Officers initially recovered a firearm and shell casings from the basement bedroom. Police later located a second firearm inside the home, bringing the total number of recovered firearms to two.
Authorities have not publicly stated who owned the firearms or confirmed which weapon, if either, was used in the fatal shooting.
Police also reported that DeAngelo Johnson was wearing an empty holster when officers found him on the first floor. That discovery prompted an officer-safety alert as officers searched the residence for the missing firearm.
Chicago police said the shooting appeared to be domestic-related and identified the alleged offender as the mother’s boyfriend.
Radio traffic indicated that a person had been detained by approximately 11:26 p.m. The official police report later confirmed that the known offender was taken into custody.
Two witnesses were reportedly available to identify the alleged offender, and officers conducted a show-up identification procedure near the scene.
Police have not released additional information about potential charges against the suspect.
The investigation into the Chicago Austin neighborhood double shooting remains ongoing. Detectives are continuing to examine the circumstances that led to the shooting, the relationship between the people involved and the role of the two recovered firearms.
The deaths of Angela Johnson and DeAngelo Johnson are being investigated as a double homicide.