ARLINGTON, Texas — At least four people were injured Wednesday in a shooting at Timberview High School in Arlington, authorities said.
Three of the victims were students while the fourth was “an older person that may be a teacher,” Arlington Assistant Police Chief Kevin Kolbye said. At least two of the victims suffered gunshot wounds. Their conditions were not immediately known.
Kolbye said investigators believe the shooting stemmed from an argument between a student and another individual in a classroom.
“This is not a random act of violence. This is not somebody attacking our schools. This is a student – we believe right now, preliminarily, that it was a student that got into a fight and drew a weapon,” he said. Later, he clarified that police were not immediately sure whether the gunman was a student. “We do have a suspect who’s identified.”
Update 2:28 p.m. EDT Oct. 6: Police said Wednesday afternoon that they had a suspect in custody following a shooting that left four people injured at Timberview High School.
Earlier, police identified the suspect as 18-year-old Timothy George Simpkins. He faces multiple counts of aggravated assault with a weapon, authorities said.
Tim Ciesco of the Arlington Police Department identified the victims injured in the shooting to the Dallas Morning News as a 25-year-old man who was in good condition, a teenage girl who was in good condition, a 15-year-old boy who was in critical condition and another victim who had already treated and released.
Original report: Police shared a photo of the suspect, identified as 18-year-old Timothy George Simpkins, on social media. Police believe he is driving a 2018 silver Dodge Charger with license plate No. PFY-6260.
“What you’re going to see now is that there’s going to be continued searches for our suspect,” Mansfield Police Chief Tracy Aaron said. “We ask for our citizens’ help to continue to search for that person and call in any leads that you may have.”
Aaron said Simpkins is considered to be armed and dangerous. He advised anyone who spots the suspect or the vehicle he’s believed to be driving tp call 911.
“I have a high confidence right now that the shooter is not on (school) premises,” Kolbye said Wednesday when asked if the school remained under threat. “I have a high confidence that it was only one shooter at this school.”
Police said students will be bused to the Mansfield ISD Center for Performing Arts to reunite with their parents.
In a statement obtained by KDFW, officials with Mansfield Independent School District said police were investigating a reported active shooter situation. At around 10:35 a.m. CT, school district officials said, “The building has been cleared.”
Earlier, officials said Timberview High School was on lockdown with students and staff members locked in classrooms and offices.
About 1,900 students in grades nine through 12 attend Timberview High School, according to The Associated Press.
Officials with several agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, are investigating.