A teacher in Mansfield Independent School District is in jail after police say he assaulted his wife, who is an administrator in the district, during an argument at their home and then shot his son and stepdaughter.
Thomas Boykin, 52, was arrested Wednesday morning and charged with three counts of aggravated assault of a family member with a deadly weapon, causing serious bodily injury—a first-degree felony punishable by five to 99 years in prison.
Boykin is an eighth-grade science teacher at Linda Jobe Middle School in Mansfield ISD.
His wife, Amy Boykin, is an assistant principal at Imogene Gideon Elementary in the same school district.
According to the Mansfield Police Department, officers responded to a shooting call at the Boykins’ home at 10:40 p.m. on Tuesday. They found the suspect inside the home and took him into custody “without incident.”
Officers located a 13-year-old male and a 21-year-old female with apparent gunshot wounds. They were both transported to Medical City Arlington by Mansfield medics.
Based upon the investigation, detectives determined that Thomas Boykin had an argument with his wife and assaulted her. At that point, he retrieved a handgun and went into his son’s bedroom and shot him while he was sleeping and then proceeded into his stepdaughter’s bedroom and shot her.
The wife was able to get out of the house and the stepdaughter called 911.
Police say the victims underwent surgery overnight and are listed as in serious but stable condition. The suspect was booked into the Everman Jail in Mansfield.
State Board for Educator Certification records show Thomas Boykin has been certified to teach in Texas since 1994. Amy Boykin became certified as a teacher and principal in 2021.
Principal Joseph Harmonson sent an email to Jobe families Wednesday saying Thomas Boykin had been arrested “following a domestic violence situation that occurred at his home” and was “immediately placed on leave.”
A statement from the district also noted that the superintendent is moving forward with his proposed termination, which must be approved by the board of trustees.
Mansfield ISD educator Diego Barona was charged earlier this year with two sex crimes involving students, and teachers aide Clarence “Bud” Hayes was arrested last month for soliciting a prostitute.
