Mansfield teacher shot son, stepdaughter, police say
MANSFIELD, Texas - A young woman and a teenage boy are in the hospital after police in suburban Fort Worth said their father shot them.
The shooting happened just before 11 p.m. Tuesday, in a neighborhood in east Mansfield.
Police said they got a call about a domestic violence situation at a home that had escalated into gunfire.
Investigators are still trying to piece together the precise circumstances that resulted in the two young people being shot.
They believe the suspect, 52-year-old Thomas Boykin, got into an argument with his wife and assaulted her. Then he reportedly retrieved a handgun and shot his 13-year-old biological son and 21-year-old stepdaughter.
Thomas Boykin (Source: Mansfield)
"At first, it was just a verbal argument, and then he actually assaulted the wife. At one point, he retrieved a handgun, he walked into his 13-year-old son’s bedroom and shot him while he was sleeping," said Zhiovanni Cook, with the Mansfield Police Department. "He then proceeded to walk into his 21-year-old stepdaughter’s bedroom and shot her as well."
The two victims underwent surgery overnight and both are in serious condition.
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The teen told officers the man offered him a ride to a Walmart to get a drink, but instead took him to an empty parking lot.
Mansfield police department said, somehow, the stepdaughter, who was shot in her lower back, was able to call 911.
The boy was shot in his chest, but was able to walk out of the home as police arrived three minutes after the call.
Boykin's wife also ran to a neighbor's house to call 911.
"She was frantic. She was just screaming as loud as you can scream saying, ‘my husband is shooting my kids,’" said neighbor Reagan Finch.
She was not seriously hurt.
Police arrested Boykin a short time later, and he was booked into the Everman jail.
He's charged with three counts of family violence aggravated assault causing serious bodily injury.
Neighbors tell FOX 4 they were a quiet family and that Boykin would often play basketball with his son outside.
Police said they’ve never been called to this home before.
Boykin was an eighth grade science teacher at Linda Jobe Middle School in Mansfield for 17 years.
Mansfield ISD said Boykin was placed on leave once the district was told about the arrest.
"The superintendent is moving forward with his proposed termination to the Board of Trustees for approval," said Mansfield ISD in a statement.
People on social media have said Boykin was their kid’s favorite teacher, he’s now accused of a double shooting.
Boykin's wife, Amy, is an assistant principal with Mansfield ISD.
The district said there will be counseling resources available for students and staff.