Police Report: Veteran in Wheelchair Shot by Suspect in Daylight

The individual who confessed to driving his vehicle through a voter registration tent of Donald Trump supporters now faces accusations of shooting a wheelchair user on Seattle’s waterfront in broad daylight.

Gregory Timm, 32, faces charges of first-degree assault for the July 31 incident, as stated by the King County, Washington, Prosecuting Attorney’s Office announced on August 5. The conflict reportedly originated when the suspect accused Harold Powell, 68, of stolen valor – falsely claiming to have served in the military.

Reports indicate Timm approached Powell, who was in a wheelchair, at Seattle’s Pier 55, demanding to see his military identification. Local CBS affiliate KIRO reported that Powell was a regular presence at the waterfront, known for playing music to earn donations.

“While the victim was retrieving his wallet, the defendant extracted a military patch from the victim’s items,” according to the prosecuting attorney’s office. As Timm allegedly “persisted with his demands” for the ID, Powell “armed himself with a knife” and later an Airsoft gun that was holstered.

“Before the victim could act, the defendant drew his pistol, aimed it at the victim, and fired a shot point-blank into his chest,” the charging documents disclosed. Footage released by the prosecutor’s office captured the shocking instance when the gun was discharged.

A person believed to be Timm can be seen reaching into a bag and stepping back away from Powell in the wheelchair. The suspect then pulls out a gun and points it at Powell as crowds of people linger 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 pulls out the gun, per the video obtained by ABC affiliate KOMO. Moments later, a gunshot can be heard, and a small cloud of smoke blows away in the wind. Bystanders can be seen running from the area.

“Regarding self-defense and Washington state case law, a defendant cannot claim self-defense if the defendant provoked the altercation,” the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office said. “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 after an initial court hearing. Powell later recalled the event to KIRO: “I seen the slug. I can see the heat of the slug coming at me and then just, ‘boom!’ Knocked me back.”

He took a positive approach when discussing what he went through, saying, “I’m just blessed, I can still do my thing with my family. I’m blessed.”

This wasn’t the first time Timm was 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 alleged to have plowed 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 of age or older, one count of criminal mischief, and driving while having a suspended driver’s license, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said at the time.

“It was the most stupid thing I have ever done,” Timm would later say in court as he was found guilty in April 2021 of the lesser charge of criminal mischief but not guilty of the other crimes, per 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 reportedly added. “Crashing is a strong word. … I still consider it was a prank.”

Other people didn’t consider it a prank, including Trump, then in his first term, who warned, “Be careful tough guys who you play with!”

Timm was sentenced to 60 days in jail, which he had already served, Jacksonville NBC affiliate WTLV reported.

For the King County, Washington, charge, Timm is expected back in court on Monday.