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The family of an 18-year-old student suspected of opening fire and injuring four people at a Texas high school on Wednesday say he was bullied and brought the handgun for protection.
Timothy Simpkins, a student at Timberview High School in Arlington, allegedly fired a .45 caliber handgun in a brawl that broke out in a classroom at around 9:15 a.m. before fleeing in a 2018 Silver Dodge Charger. After a manhunt lasting several hours, Simpkins surrendered and is expected to be charged with three counts of aggravated assault with a lethal weapon.
A SHOT AT TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL INJURIES SEVERAL SUSPECTS, SAYS ARLINGTON POLICE
Following the incident, Simpkins’ family told reporters outside their home in Arlington that he was being bullied and had been robbed twice from school.
“The decision he made, taking the gun, we don’t justify that. It wasn’t fair. But he was trying to protect himself,” family member Carol Harrison Lafayette said, according to FOX4 Dallas. -Fort Worth. “We hope the police department will investigate properly.”
Simpkins surrendered after a manhunt lasting several hours and is expected to be charged with three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
(Arlington Police Department)
“For the family of the victims, there is no justification for anyone being injured,” Lafayette said.
A 15-year-old boy was shot and remained in critical condition while a 25-year-old teacher who was also shot was in good condition, the outlet reported. A teenage girl was treated and released from a hospital after being shot and grazed. A pregnant teacher was injured in a fall and was treated on the spot.
Families leave the Mansfield ISD Center For The Performing Arts Center where families were reunited with high school students Timberview Wednesday in Mansfield, Texas. (AP Photo / Tony Gutierrez)
Lafayette said Simpkins was targeted for wearing nice clothes and driving a nice car, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported, adding that incidents between Simpkins and other students had been reported to principals and teachers.
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Arlington Police said video from a cell phone showed the fight erupted before Simpkins fired. Lafayette claimed the video showed Simpkins being attacked, the newspaper reported.
All classes and extracurricular activities were canceled on Thursday and counseling services were made available to students, staff and families.
Fox News’ Danielle Wallace and Louis Casiano contributed to this report.
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