Family of Timberview High School Shooting Suspect, Timothy Simpkins, Asks Public for Forgiveness

Timothy Simpkins

Family of Timberview High School Shooting Suspect, Timothy Simpkins, Asks Public for Forgiveness

Family members of 18-year-old Timothy Simpkins have come forward to ask their community for forgiveness. Timothy Simpkins recently made headlines for opening fire at his Texas-based school, Timberview High School. According to reports, on Wednesday (Oct. 6) Timothy Simpkins opened fire in a classroom on the 2nd floor of his school building, after getting into a fight with another student. Some reports claim that after firing the weapon Timothy Simpkins fled the scene. The teenager reportedly turned himself into the local police station a few hours later with his lawyer present.

Three people were reportedly injured due to the shooting and were taken to the hospital. A pregnant teacher was also reportedly hurt in a fall, but was treated at the scene. According to the Arlington Police Department, Timothy Simpkins was booked in the Arlington jail on three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and was being held on a $75,000 bail.

A spokesperson for the Simpkins family, Carol Harrison Lafayette, told reporters that the teenager was bullied at school and hopes a police investigation will shine a light on what prompted the shooting. There will be an independent investigation done as well. She said,

“He was scared. He was afraid. There’s a video that’s all out on social media and it shows that he was being attacked. It wasn’t just one person that would attack him and bully him, taking his money, harassing him due to the fact that he had more things than maybe others.”

She continued and said Timothy Simpkins’ family isn’t justifying his actions.

“The decision he made, taking the gun, we are not justifying that. That was not right. But he was trying to protect himself. So we hope the police department does the investigation properly.”

She added,

“We have to take a look at the fact that bullying is real, and it takes us all… and I do apologize. We ask as a family for forgiveness of any type of hurt.”

Arlington Assistant Police Chief also spoke on the incident and said,

“This is not a random act of violence. This is not somebody attacking our school.”

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