Family says Timberview High School student was shot 4 times, faces more surgeries

A 15-year-old Mansfield Timberview High School student who was wounded in a shooting at school Wednesday was shot four times and was in an induced coma while recovering in the ICU, according to his family.

The family of Zacchaeus Selby told Star-Telegram media partner WFAA-TV that he was shot in his arm, leg, chest and stomach, was on a ventilator and had more surgery on Friday.

A GoFundMe account has been started to raise money for medical expenses and legal fees for the family.

According to court documents, 18-year-old student Timothy Simpkins shot Selby after teachers broke up a fight between the two in a classroom at the school in Arlington. A teacher also was wounded in the shooting, and another student was grazed by a bullet. Simpkins has been charged with three counts of aggravated assault. He was released on bail Thursday.

Simpkins’ family has said he was being bullied and brought a handgun to school to defend himself. Video taken by another student and circulated on social media shows Selby repeatedly hitting Simpkins, police said. Police wrote in an arrest warrant affidavit that teachers had separated the two students before Simpkins pulled a gun from his backpack and fired multiple times. Authorities have not said what the fight was about.

Selby’s family told WFAA and other media that he is the victim.

His grandmother, Kathy Selby, told WFAA that the two students had been feuding for weeks.

The grandmother told KXAS-TV she doesn’t believe the shooting was self defense. “The victim is laying in the hospital trauma unit,” she told the TV station.

“This innocent 15 year old did not bully Tim, 18 year old senior - or deserve to be in the hospital fighting for his life,” the GoFundMe page says.

“Zacchaeus is a bright young and respectful individual who lit up a room every time with his presence,” the GoFundMe post says.

This story was originally published October 7, 2021 at 10:25 PM.