Family and friends of a teenage boy who was shot in an Arlington school shooting on Wednesday, Oct. 6, said the teenage victim was not a bully.
According to the victim’s family, Zacchaeus Selby, 15, was shot four times by Timothy George Simpkins, 18, after a brawl in Timberview High School. Selby was shot along with three other people, including an English teacher from the high school.
According to Selby’s family, the 15-year-old had been shot in the arm, leg, chest, and stomach. Selby’s mother said her son video called her being shot and that she saw blood all over his body.
As previously reported by the Dallas Express, Simpkins’ family stated he must have carried out the shooting because students were bullying him. The family claims other kids were jealous of Simpkins because he drove a nice car and wore expensive clothes. They added that Simpkins’ expensive lifestyle had made him a target.
Selby’s grandmother, Kathy Selby, contradicted Simpkins’ family bullying claims saying her grandson had been feuding with Simpkins for weeks and that one of Simpkins’ friends had jumped Selby just recently. Kathy also confirmed that the Simpkins family is making the 18-year old shooter a victim.
“My grandson is in the ICU, shot four times. My grandson is the victim,” Kathy said.
Selby’s family also denied he had bullied Simpkins in a GoFundMe set up to raise funds for his medical care. They described Selby as a great brother, boyfriend, and coworker and said he does not “have a bone in his body to bully anyone.”
“Zacch really does have a heart of gold, a child himself, and works with kids on a daily basis,” the family wrote on his GoFundMe page.
Both families said the school authorities knew about Selby and Simpkins’ rivalries but kept them in the same class.
The Dallas Express reported that Simpkins was released Thursday on a $75,000 bond. He has been charged with three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
