Suspect in Arlington, Texas School Shooting Released From Jail on $75K Bond

The suspect in Wednesday's shooting at a Texas high school was released from jail Thursday after posting a bond of $75,000, the Associated Press reported.

Timothy George Simpkins, 18, is accused of drawing a gun and firing in one of the classrooms at Timberview High School, where he was a student.

All students at the Arlington school were evacuated Wednesday to a designated reunification site and other schools in the Mansfield Independent School District were also locked down as police searched for Simpkins, who fled the scene after the shooting. Once Simpkins was detained by law enforcement without incident, he was jailed on three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.

Arlington Assistant Chief of Police Kevin Kolbye said during a Wednesday press conference that police had recovered a handgun on a street but was not immediately able to confirm if it was the one used at the school.

Police said that four people were injured during the incident, including two who were shot. The other two had unspecified injuries. Three were transported to a hospital, as one with minor injuries refused treatment at the scene, according to police.

Senator Ted Cruz of Texas acknowledged the shooting during a press conference Wednesday, saying that he was "grateful for the courage and heroism of the first responders."

"I know all of us are lifting up in prayer the students and the teachers and the first responders and the parents," Cruz said. "There have been far too many of these in far too many schools."

Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick also commented on the shooting, saying in a statement that "Texans are heartbroken and outraged" at the occurrence.

"Please join Jan and me in praying for all the victims to make a full recovery, and for their families and friends," he said, referring to his wife, Janetlea Patricia Rankin. "Please also join us in prayer for our brave law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line to protect us every day."

For more reporting from the Associated Press, see below.

Police have said the shooting happened after a fight, but Simpkins' family said he had been bullied and robbed twice at school.

"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 Wednesday night while standing with other relatives. "That was not right. But he was trying to protect himself."

Police said a 15-year-old student who was shot remained in critical condition while a 25-year-old teacher who was shot was in good condition Thursday.

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