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The Texas teen who injured four people when he allegedly opened fire at his high school celebrated his release from jail with a twisted welcome home party – even as one of the victims remains in a coma.
Timothy George Simpkins, 18, who attends Timberview High School in Arlington, posted $75,000 bond at Tarrant County Jail on Thursday and headed to home confinement.
The student, who was charged with three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, was seen in videos shared in social media enjoying a celebratory family gathering in his kitchen, The Sun reported.
Meanwhile, 15-year-old student Zacchaeus Selby, who was struck four times during the gunfire, remained hospitalized in an induced coma, according to the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
“Zacchaeus is a bright young and respectful individual who lit up a room every time with his presence,” according to a GoFundMe account set up to raise money for his medical expenses and legal costs.
“He has a heart of gold and does not deserve to be fighting for his life in the ICU due to being shot in an environment were (sic) kids should feel safe. He is a great brother, boyfriend, and coworker and does not have a bone in his body to bully anyone,” the fundraiser adds.
A spokeswoman for Simpkins’ family has claimed that he acted out of self-defense after being robbed and targeted by bullies for wearing nice duds and driving a fancy car.
Footage on social media allegedly showed Simpkins getting into an altercation during class with another student that escalated to gunfire Wednesday.
The fight was broken up and the two students calmed down, but then Simpkins pulled out a firearm from his backpack and fired several shots that struck Selby and two other people, according to an arrest warrant.
Calvin Pettitt, a 25-year-old English teacher who jumped in to break up the fight, was shot in the back, suffering broken ribs and a collapsed lung, according to police and his family.
Also injured were Eyimofe Olawepo and Pariesa Altma, according to a bond document obtained by Dallas News.
A pregnant woman was injured in a fall during the shooting, but received medical care at the scene, police said.
Selby’s grandmother, Kathy Selby, told WFAA that the two students had been feuding for a long time.
“They’re making Simpkins out to be the victim. My grandson is in the ICU — shot four times. My grandson is the victim,” she told the outlet.
Civil rights attorney Kim Cole, who spoke on behalf of Simpkins’ family, criticized reporters outside the jail for portraying the incident as a “standard-issue school shooting.”
“There are numerous school shootings that have occurred across this country which are tragic. All school shootings are tragic,” Cole said. “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.’”
“That was not the situation here. So I request the media correct their narrative with regard to what happened, and that you all respect the family’s privacy,” she said.
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