After hours of waiting around 1,7000 Timberview High School students were reunited with family Wednesday following a shooting at the school.
As school buses, full of students, arrived at the Mansfield ISD Center for Performing arts, police officers scanned every student ID badge as students got off the bus to make sure every student was accounted for. Parents waited in long lines and had to show ID and fill out paperwork to get inside the building.
Parent Frank Earl said it was a long process but understands it takes time to make sure everyone was safe.
“It was a relief. Nothing but tears. I couldn’t stop crying knowing that my baby is safe,” said Earl.
The shooting at Timberview high school had students and parents in a panic, a feeling student Marcus Lopez is familiar with from a shooting recently at Six Flags.
“I was very scared curled up in a ball, the substitute teacher was trying to console me,” said Lopez.
Suspect 18-year-old Timothy George Simpkins later turned himself in to police and is facing multiple counts of aggravated assault with a gun.
Authorities said three people were hospitalized in the shooting that is believed to have happened after a fight broke out inside the school. The victims are expected to be okay.
Donald Williams, Associate Superintendent for Mansfield ISD said it’s been impressive to see the hard work of local law enforcement to bring this to a close.
He said there’s no school on Thursday and all afterschool acitivities have been cancelled.
“We want to make sure we are putting all of the resources where they are needed at this particular time and that is to take care of the students and teachers and parents of Timberview High School,” said Williams.
Counseling resources have been made availavle to those who need it.
