- The family of the Arlington,
Texas ,school shooting suspect said he was bullied and protecting himself. - Police allege Timothy Simpkins, 18, opened fire in a second-floor classroom on Wednesday morning.
- Four people were injured. A 15-year-old is still in the hospital in critical condition.
The family of the Arlington, Texas, school shooting suspect said he was bullied and trying to protect himself.
Timothy Simpkins, 18, turned himself in to the police on Wednesday after the shooting. Police allege he opened fire in a second-story classroom and injured four people.
The assistant chief of the Arlington Police, Kevin Kolbye, said on Wednesday that police thought the shooting occurred after a fight broke out between students. Local police are still investigating the situation and implored people on Wednesday to come forward if they have any additional information.
Carol Harrison Lafayette, a member of Simpkins' family, said they don't justify his actions and that Simpkins was trying to protect himself after getting bullied at school.
"The decision he made, taking the gun, we are not justifying that," Lafayette said, according to Fox 4. "That was not right. But he was trying to protect himself. We hope the police department does the investigation properly."
Lafayette went on to allege that somebody robbed Simpkins before the shooting.
"It was recorded," she said. "It happened not just once, it happened twice. He was scared, he was afraid."
Simpkins' cousin, Cint Wheat, echoed Lafayette's claims and posted a video on her Facebook page of two students fighting. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram confirmed the video happened right before shots broke out.
"They robbed my lil cousin beat him up he was tired," Wheat wrote.
The identities of the victims have not been released.
Two students and two teachers were hurt in the incident on Wednesday. One of the students, a 15-year-old, is still in critical condition in the hospital. One other victim, a 25-year-old teacher, is also in the hospital and is in good condition. The remaining two victims received minor injuries and are expected to be okay.
Police charged Simpkins with three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. His bail is set at $75,000.