On Monday, July 24, 2023, a Tarrant County jury sentenced Timothy Simpkins to 12 years in prison and a $6,000 fine after finding him guilty of attempted capital murder in the Mansfield Timberview High School shooting on October 6, 2021.
On that day, Simpkins went to his first class at school. When classmate Zaccaeus "Zac" Selby, then 15, walking in, he started to fight Simpkins. Cellphone video captured Simpkins being beaten by Selby.
Teachers broke up the fight and, seconds later, SImpkins pulled out a gun and shot Selby. Students began running away and Simpkins continued shooting, hitting English teacher Calvin Pettit in the back, piercing his lung. The bullet lodged near Pettit's heart.
A school security camera showed Selby and others rushing out of the classroom. Simpkins followed, firing into the hallway, grazing a female student in the hip. There he found Selby, who fell and was crawling away. Simpkins continued shooting, striking him a total of three times. Selby, who was shot in the abdomen, arm, and leg, survived.
Simpkins then left the school. The .45-caliber Glock he used was found at his sister's apartment.
Tarrant County Assistant District Attorney Lloyd Whelchel told the jury that the Timberview shooting was retribution for an earlier robbery, during which Simpkins claimed he was pistol-whipped. Simpkins was seen on video at a RaceTrac gas station shooting at a vehicle driving away.
He carried a loaded gun with him to school the entire week of October 6, 2021.
"We take school shootings seriously," said Whelchel, who prosecuted the case with Rose Anna Salinas. "That should not be the norm of our society."
Salinas described Simpkins, now 19, as "a cold-blooded killer" who went on a shooting spree on October 6, 2021.
"He discharged that weapon six times," she said. "Every time he discharged it, it was intentional."
Simpkins was emotional when he took the stand in court, telling jurors he is not the ruthless person the prosecution is portraying him to be.
"I understand what I did was wrong. I'm truly sorry. I'm just asking for another chance," he said through tears. "I wish every day I could take it back but I can't."
Simpkins repeatedly told the courtroom he carried the gun to defend himself and that he was scared. Throughout the testimony, he also continued to apologize for what happened.
"I'm sorry for my actions. I know it was wrong and horrible. I'm sorry to everyone I hurt, physically and mentally. There's nothing I can say to justify my actions. I'm sorry," he said.
