aggravated assault with a deadly weapon but the 18-year-old walked out of Tarrant County Jail on Thursday afternoon. A bondsman met the bail terms on Thursday, posting at least some of the full amount, and he walked free.
On Wednesday, he pulled a gun from his backpack and shot a 15-year-old boy ‘seven or eight times’, shot teacher Calvin Pettitt in the back and grazed a teenage girl before going on the run from Timberview High School. He was angry about a fight that had just happened where the 15-year-old boy repeatedly punched him.
Simpkins said nothing as he strode out of the jail on Thursday in a blue t-shirt, matching baseball cap worn backwards, and jeans. It’s unclear why he has been charged with aggravated assault and not attempted murder or more serious charges, or why the judge granted him bail.
Hours later, one of his relatives boasted on social media that he was already home and shared videos from a family gathering inside a home. He was shown holding a baby, standing in his kitchen, chatting to relatives.
Meanwhile, teacher Calvin Pettitt – who was shot because he tried to break up the fight – remained in the hospital, with a bullet in his shoulder that narrowly missed his aorta.
The 15-year-old boy, who has not been named, is also still in the hospital in a critical condition.
Pettitt’s horrified sister, upon learning the shooter had been released, tweeted: ‘How can this keep managing to get worse?’
The Tarrant County District’s Attorney still has not filed a case against the teen, and his next court date has not yet been scheduled.
A video of their fight was posted on social media by Simpkins’ cousin on Wednesday night in an effort to prove that he was being bullied.
It shows Simpkins – who was identified by police as wearing a light colored hoodie in the footage – being pummeled by the other boy, who is three years his junior, while holding his hands around his head.
Once the fight was over, he went to his orange backpack, pulled out of his gun and started shooting.
Both he and the 15-year-old boy remain in the hospital. Pettitt is expected to survive and is in a good condition but the 15-year-old boy is in critical condition.
A third victim – a teenage girl – suffered a graze wound but is no longer in the hospital. A fourth person, believed to be a pregnant teacher, was injured when she tripped over in the chaos.
Simpkins was arraigned on Thursday morning via video link. He told the judge he understood the charges and that he would retain his own attorney.
Now, he is in the Tarrant County Correctional Center awaiting his next court date.
