The Texas student accused of opening fire inside of his high school and wounding four people, including a teacher, was repeatedly bullied over his fancy belongings and lavish lifestyle before he turned to violence, according to his family, who have also asked for forgiveness on his behalf.
Timothy Simpkins turned himself into authorities on Wednesday shortly after gunfire erupted inside Timberview High School in Arlington. He was charged with three counts of aggravated assault with a gun and released from Tarrant County Jail after paying a $75,000 bond.
Civil rights attorney Kim T. Cole, who is representing 18-year-old Simpkins, insisted the case was not a “standard-issue school shooting” after a hearing on Thursday.
“There are numerous school shootings that have occurred across this country which are tragic,” she told reporters. “All school shootings are tragic. However, in this situation, this was not someone who was just out to go and shoot a school and had made up their mind [and said] ‘You know hey I’m upset and I’m just going to shoot anyone I see.’”
His mother told NBCDFW her son was often targeted for having more than his classmates.
A spokeswoman for Simpkins’ family said he had been bullied and robbed twice at school, adding that his actions were all made in self-defense.
“The decision he made, taking the gun, we’re not justifying that,” said family spokeswoman Carol Harrison Lafayette, who spoke to reporters outside the Simpkins’ home while standing with other relatives. “That was not right. But he was trying to protect himself.
The shooting at Timberview High School, which is in Arlington but part of the school district in neighboring Mansfield, stemmed from a fight among students, according to Arlington Assistant Police Chief Kevin Kolbye.
Video of the moments leading up to the gunfire, which are now part of the investigation, have been circulating on social media, according to WFAA. The clips show Simpkins being thrown to the ground and getting repeatedly punched by another student.
School busses depart past a law enforcement official after dropping off Timberview High School children at the Mansfield ISD Center For The Performing Arts, Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021 in Mansfield, Texas, following a school shooting at Timberview in nearby Arlington. (Tony Gutierrez/)
According to a juvenile witness on the scene, Simpkins then retrieved a firearm out of an orange backpack, pointed it at the other student and shot “7 to 8 times.”
Calvin Pettitt, a 25-year-old English teacher who attempted to break up the fight, was shot in the back. His family said he is suffering from broken ribs and a collapsed lung.
The other victims were identified as Zacchaeus Selby, Eyimofe Olawepo and Pariesa Altma, according to a bond document obtained by Dallas News.
Police said the 15-year-old student remained in critical condition, while a teenage girl who was grazed by a bullet has since been discharged from the hospital.
The fourth victim, a pregnant woman, was injured in a fall during the shooting, but received medical care on the scene, police said.
Kolybe confirmed authorities are looking into the bullying allegations.
Arlington, with a population of about 400,000, is a major suburb of the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
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Original Article: Arlington school shooter bullied for having nice things, more than others, family says (msn.com)
He had a good reason to shoot up a school and he’s out on bail…what a double standard..if he were white he would never see the light of day
The Hate is kept strong, by the Democrats and the Blacks. Is is any wonder, why We Can’t trust some of the Blacks? Most of the blacks are OK, but these ones that don’t have the sense, God gave a Billy Goat, need to be Handled and taken care of.
First of all did the student report the bullying to the school or did the parents act on the bullying or is this an excuse for his actions and where did he get this weapon? It all sounds kind of strange to me.
Rich again from above, I forgot one thing, the parents are not allowed to get involved in school matters or the FBI will get involved (that according to brain dead)
What ever happen to. sticks an stones. Everyone is so so thin skin these days. He was bullied for having nice things. Well his jeans are full of holes. (Lol). Serious. Parents need to teach respect to their kids. The answer to every quarrel is Not a gun or knife
It wasn’t just names he was called he was physically attacked. These schools can’t even stop bullying too busy focusing on Critical Race Theory bs. No kid should have to put up with this day after day. I have been in my kids school and heard horrible things said to kids in front of teachers and they do nothing. Kids reach their breaking point that’s why we should teach our kids not to bully. Now family’s are suffering because people didn’t step in and stop this.
Nothing new here blm