The city of Seattle is still reeling after a shooting in broad daylight on its crowded waterfront left a Black man thankful to be alive. The July incident between a 32-year-old white man and an elder Black Navy veteran was caught on camera, and the argument reportedly started with the white stranger’s completely unprovoked allegations. Here’s what we know.
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According to court documents and witness accounts, Gregory William Timmon, a white man, accused Black military veteran and street performer Harold Powell Sr. of stolen valor on July 31. Powell, who says he served 14 years in the U.S. Navy, told channel King 5 he “was getting ready to leave and a gentleman walked up to me and said how long are you going to be here? I said, ‘I’m wrapping up.’ I said, ‘Why?’ He said cause you are a ‘fake veteran.’ I started laughing. I said, ‘No, I am a veteran man.’”
Powell, who says he tried to show identification of his proof of service, claims his accuser “grabbed my belongings.” Police said Timm ripped a military patch from Powell’s items. Powell admitted he took out a knife when Timm allegedly did not back away, and witness’ statements say the wheelchair-bound performer brandished a holstered airsoft gun. Timm is accused of pulling out a firearm and shooting Powell in the chest at point black range.
Powell survived the shooting, spent over a week in the hospital, and is currently recovering at home, per reports. His family also launched a GoFundMe to help with expenses.
“I’ve been shot point blank with a 45. I’m dead,” Powell, who is disabled, said, recalling his thoughts at the time. Timm remained at the scene after the incident and was arrested. On Monday (Aug. 18), Timm plead not guilty to felony assault. He is being held on $750,000 bail.
Police said Timm was the initiator of the conflict with Powell, but the suspect’s lawyers claim he was acting in self-defense after Powell pulled out a airsoft gun. This isn’t Timm’s first run-in with the law.
In 2021, Timm pleaded guilty to criminal mischief after driving his van into a tent of Trump supporters in Jacksonville, per King 5. No one was injured in what was called a politically charged attack, but the incident drew national attention and even a response from then-President Donald Trump, who wrote on X: “Be careful tough guys who you play with!”
Timm’s next court appearance is Sept. 5.
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