The man who admitted driving through a Donald Trump voter registration tent is now accused of shooting a wheelchair-bound man on Seattle’s waterfront in broad daylight.
The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announced on August 5 that Gregory Timm, 32, has been charged with first-degree assault in the July 31 shooting. The violence reportedly began after the suspect accused Harold Powell, 68, of stealing valor, which is an act of false military representation.
Timm is said to have approached Powell in a wheelchair at Seattle’s Pier 55 and demanded that he show his military ID. Powell was a regular on the waterfront, according to local CBS affiliate KIRO. He was known for performing music in exchange for donations.
“As the victim was taking out his wallet, the defendant removed a military patch from the victim’s belongings,” the prosecutor’s office stated. As Timm allegedly “continued to demand” the ID, Powell “arm[ed] himself with a knife” and then a holstered Airsoft gun.
“Before the victim could even do anything with it, the defendant pulled out his handgun, pointed it at the victim, and shot him point-blank in the chest,” according to the charging paper. The prosecutor’s office released video that captured the startling moment when the gun was fired.
A person believed to be Timm can be seen reaching into a bag and moving away from Powell in the wheelchair. The suspect then draws a gun and points it at Powell, as crowds gather or walk by the waterfront and the Starbucks store next to the men.
“Hey, hey, hey, hey,” someone can be heard saying as the suspect draws the gun, according to a video obtained by ABC affiliate KOMO. Moments later, a gunshot is heard, and a small cloud of smoke blows away in the wind. Bystanders can be seen fleeing the area.
According to the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, if the defendant provoked the altercation, he or she cannot claim self-defense under Washington state case law. “If you provoke an attack upon yourself, you lose the right to claim self-defense.”
Timm was jailed in King County on $750,000 bail following his initial court appearance. Powell later told KIRO, “I saw the slug.” I can see the heat of the slug approaching me, and then ‘boom!’ knocked me back.”
When discussing his experiences, he maintained a positive attitude, saying, “I’m just blessed; I can still do my thing with my family. I’ve been blessed.”
Timm had previously been the subject of law enforcement attention. In February 2020, he was arrested at the opposite end of the continental United States.
As Law&Crime previously reported, Timm was accused of plowing a van into a Republican voter registration tent in Jacksonville, Florida, in February 2020. He was charged with two counts of aggravated assault on a person 65 years or older, one count of criminal mischief, and driving with a suspended license, according to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
“It was the most stupid thing I have ever done,” Timm would later say in court after being found guilty in April 2021 of the lesser charge of criminal mischief but not guilty of the other crimes, according to The Florida Times Union.
“I was waiting for everybody to clear out of the way because it was never my intention to hurt anybody,” he told reporters. “Crashing” is a strong term. I still think it was a prank.
Other people did not see it as a prank, including Trump, who warned, “Be careful tough guys who you play with!”
Timm received a 60-day jail sentence, which he had already served, according to Jacksonville NBC affiliate WTLV.
Timm is scheduled to appear in court on Monday regarding the King County, Washington, charge.
