ARLINGTON – Authorities in Texas are reacting to the news of a shooting at an Arlington high school that left four people injured and spurred a manhunt for the teenaged gunman on Wednesday.
The incident happened when a student, identified as 18-year-old Timothy George Simpkins, opened fire during a fight at Timberview High School. Later Wednesday, the Arlington Police Department said that Simpkins was taken into custody.
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Two people were shot and two others suffered unspecified injuries.
Three of the four were taken to hospitals, Arlington Assistant Police Chief Kevin Kolbye said at a news conference.
At a news conference on the Texas border to discuss immigration, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott reacted to the shooting.
“We grieve for everyone who’s been harmed or affected by this in any way whatsoever,” he said.
The shooting happened more than a month after Abbott passed a new state law that lets most Texans carry handguns in public without proper training or permits.
Fellow Republican, Sen. Ted Cruz, said he is praying for the victims and the school.
“I know all of us are lifting up in prayer. The students, and the teachers, and the first responders, and the parents,” he said. “There have been far too many of these in far too many schools and so we are grateful for the courage and heroism of the first responders and are hopeful that all of the students or individuals who may have been injured will come through and survive.”
Around Texas, other politicians and prominent names reacted to the shooting:
My statement in reaction to today's tragic shooting at @mansfieldisd Timberview High School. #txlege pic.twitter.com/vLG2ZuvhoL
— Chris Turner (@ChrisGTurner) October 6, 2021
My thoughts are with the students, educators, staff and families of Timberview High School in Arlington as we continue to learn details about today’s shooting. https://t.co/QghaQtMbKx
— Beto O'Rourke (@BetoORourke) October 6, 2021
My thoughts are with the students, parents, and faculty at Timberview High School.
— Julián Castro (@JulianCastro) October 6, 2021
This violence is not inevitable. We must take steps now to reduce gun violence and keep our communities safe. https://t.co/ZCWgZoNuzn
My office is monitoring the investigation into the shooting at Timberview High School in Arlington. I want to recognize the excellent work by police departments from the Mansfield school district, the cities of Mansfield, Arlington and Grand Prairie and several federal agencies. pic.twitter.com/8eCPwifiPK
— Tarrant County CDA (@TarrantCountyDA) October 6, 2021
GOP Lt Gov Dan Patrick on every problem has failed Texas and made things worse. After mass shootings he made gun violence more likely. After our grid failed & 700 people died, he didn’t fix the problem and consumers will pay more. On Covid he lied, and made communities less safe
— Matthew Dowd (@matthewjdowd) October 6, 2021
There is currently an active school shooting in Arlington, Texas. A student and teacher in my school district died of Covid this past week. This is directly a result of Republican policy! DIRECTLY a result of the Texas GOP!! Republicans created this madness!!! #AbbottFailedTexas
— Representative Ana-Maria Ramos (@Ramos4Texas) October 6, 2021