Tarrant County, TX (WBAP/KLIF) – The triple attempted capital murder trial of a former Timberview High School student in Arlington is getting underway in a Tarrant County courtroom .
Timothy Simpkins was 18 when he allegedly shot 15-year old Zacchaeus Selby during a fight in a classroom on October 6, 2021.
Selby, who was critically wounded and spent over two weeks in the hospital after the shooting is slated testify during the trial. The shooting also wounded a teacher who broke up the fight and a bullet also grazed another student.
Simpkins’ attorneys and family claim that he was bullied and that he acted in self-defense. Police meantime say that Simpkins engaged in “risky behavior” which led to the shooting. Prosecutors are expected to claim that Simpkins was Mansfield-Timberview’s “biggest weed dealer.”
Simpkins was indicted in February on three counts of attempted capital murder, three counts of aggravated assault, and a single count of carrying a gun in a prohibited place.
In court on Friday rejected a plea deal and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
If found guilty, Simpkins faces several years to life in prison.
(Copyright 2023 WBAP/KLIF 24/7 News. This report contains material from WFAA-TV.)