TARRANT COUNTY TEEN CONVICTED OF ATTEMPTED CAPITAL MURDER FOR 2021 SCHOOL SHOOTING
In a recent development, the jury has found 19-year-old Timothy Simpkins guilty of attempted capital murder for the 2021 shooting incident at Timberview High School. The attack injured fellow students, Zacchaeus Selby and Shaniya McNeely, along with their teacher, Calvin Pettit.
Timberview High School : Timothy Simpkins Found Guilty Of The 2021 Shooting
Defense Team’s Closing Argument
During the closing arguments, Timothy Simpkins’ attorney, Marquetta Clayton, highlighted the violent altercation that preceded the shooting. She presented cellphone video evidence showing Simpkins being attacked and stomped in the head by Zacchaeus Selby. Clayton argued that Simpkins should not be labeled as a cold-blooded killer who randomly targeted classrooms and students. Instead, she portrayed him as a victim of bullying who resorted to self-defense. Clayton also emphasized that Simpkins could kill Selby but refrained from doing so.
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Clayton’s Argument
“He [Simpkins] had him [Selby]. And they said there was another bullet in the chamber for him to do it with. If he wanted Zac dead, who was going to stop him?” Clayton argued. “He didn’t pull the trigger … he stood there, he realized the threat was over in this moment. Suppose he wanted to kill Zac, boom—a bullet to the head. That’s a cold-blooded killer—a bullet to the head. That’s what capital murder is reserved for—execution-style, bullet to the head. He had one to do it, but he didn’t.”
However, Judge Ryan Hill’s final instructions prevented Clayton from presenting the self-defense argument during the trial. Earlier, Tarrant County assistant district attorney Lloyd Whelchel contested the validity of self-defense after surveillance footage showed Simpkins pursuing another student down a school hallway with a gun.
Prosecution Team’s Closing Argument
In his closing arguments, Lloyd Whelchel portrayed Timothy Simpkins as a “cold-blooded killer who just got lucky” due to his poor marksmanship. Whelchel claimed that Simpkins woke up with the intent to kill Zacchaeus Selby, as evidenced by carrying the gun throughout the school day and pulling the trigger multiple times. The prosecutor firmly stated that it should never be acceptable for anyone to bring a gun to school and endanger the lives of others.
Whelchel’s Argument
“This is what she [Clayton] just said to you: ‘Because he didn’t shoot more, he’s not guilty. Because he didn’t shoot seven times, he’s not guilty.’ … One time is too many,” Whelchel said. “Do you all know the difference between this charge of attempted capital murder and capital murder? The width of a dime … That bullet, he [Pettis] was told, is the width of a dime away from his artery, and he prays every day it doesn’t move.”
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Verdict and Deliberation
The jury was released from the courtroom to begin deliberating at approximately 9:15 a.m. on Thursday. After careful consideration, they reached a verdict, which was announced just after 6 p.m.
The outcome of this trial will have significant implications for Timothy Simpkins and the broader community. The incident has sparked debates about school safety and the complex issue of self-defense in such sensitive cases. As the legal process concludes, it remains to be seen how this verdict will shape future discussions on similar matters.
