GoFundMe has deleted an account set up by the Arlington school shooter’s family to raise $25,000 from the public. The family of the teenage shooter Timothy Simpkins claim their son is traumatized from his father’s death, therefore asked for $25,000 from the public to help him.
‘The fundraiser was removed from the platform because it violated GoFundMe Terms of Service,’ a spokesman told the Daily Mail on Friday. According to the source, ‘Less than $150 was raised, and all donors have been refunded.’
18-year-old Simpkins critically wounded Calvin Pettitt, a 25year-old teacher, by shooting him in the back – and also injured Zacchaeus Selby, a 15-year-old student, when he opened fire at Timberview High School in Arlington, Texas, on Wednesday.
According to the 15-year-old student’s family, their son remains in the hospital, clinging to life after being shot four times. After firing the shots, Simpkins fled the scene and then turned himself in. He walked free out of jail after being freed on a $75,000 bond.
His family had defended his saying he is an innocent victim of bullying who acted in self-defense. In addition, the Simpkins’ family claimed their son was being envied because he has a nice car, wears fine clothes, and other lovely things like a Dodge Charger and expensive sneakers.
A GoFundMe page was created by Dallas attorney Kim T. Cole on Thursday night, begging the public to donate money to help Simpkins. However, GoFundMe deleted the page after it attracted $150 in donations for a violation of its policies.
The 15-year-old victim’s family created their own GoFundMe to raise money for his medical bill. As of Friday evening, people have donated over $3,000 of its $10,000 goal. He was to undergo more surgery on Friday.
No case has been filed against Simpkins by prosecutors yet. After being released from jail on Thursday, Simpkins partied with his relatives at home. Moreover, it remains unclear where Simpkins obtained his gun, and his next court date has not yet been scheduled.
