Timothy George Simpkins was sentenced to 12 years in prison on Monday after being found guilty last week of attempted capital murder at an Arlington high school in 2021.
He was also ordered to pay a fine of $6,000.
Simpkins shot three people — two students and a teacher– at Timberview High School on October 6, 2021, with a .45-caliber handgun. The teacher, Calvin Pettit, still has a bullet lodged in his chest.
The 19-year-old offered his first testimony in the case on Friday and spoke again Monday after declining to testify in his own defense during the trial.
“I understand what I did was wrong. I’m truly sorry. I’m just asking for another chance,” Simpkins said during tearful testimony. “I wish every day I could take it back, but I can’t.”
In his final testimony Monday morning, he said, crying, “I just ask for another chance — probation, max probation.”
Prosecutors pushed for a life sentence, showing a video of Simpkins allegedly committing another crime 10 days before the school shooting. Before resting their case last week, they presented evidence of Simpkins’ internet searches and details of his alleged drug dealing.
Simpkins was allegedly robbed and pistol-whipped by a person he met at an Arlington gas station 10 days before the school shooting. A video apparently showed Simpkins shooting at the escaping car at least eight times.
When the guilty verdict was delivered last week, Simpkins lowered his head before being escorted out of the courtroom. His mother left the court in tears.
“This is not right. This is not right,” she said, according to Fox 4 KDFW.
