On a busy day along Seattle’s waterfront, Harold Powell Sr., a 68-year-old Black Navy veteran, was shot in the chest in broad daylight. The attacker, who demanded proof of Powell’s military service, turned a routine day into a near tragedy.
Powell, reliant on a wheelchair, survived the assault. Prosecutors have charged 32-year-old Gregory William Timm with first-degree assault, while Powell’s family calls the act a hate-driven crime.
For nearly three decades, Powell has been a beloved presence outside Pier 55, serenading passersby with music. On July 31, this sense of normalcy shattered when Timm confronted him, alleging “stolen valor.”
The confrontation escalated quickly, according to court documents. Timm reportedly tore a patch from Powell’s wheelchair and demanded military identification, accusing him of faking his service.
In response, Powell reached for his ID but also grabbed a small knife for protection. He carried a holstered airsoft gun, which resembled a real firearm, heightening the tension.
Prosecutors say Timm then pulled a .45 caliber handgun and fired a single shot into Powell’s chest. Witnesses scattered in horror as the veteran slumped in his chair.
Powell later recounted the moment to reporters, describing a heavy blow to his chest. Doctors revealed the bullet fractured his ribs but miraculously spared his heart and vital organs.
“I saw the slug coming, then ‘boom!’ It knocked me back,” Powell said. His thoughts turned to his family, fearing he might not survive to see them again.
After the shooting, Timm reportedly stowed his gun and told bystanders, “It’s all right,” while still demanding Powell’s ID. A nearby officer swiftly detained him.
Seattle police arrived moments later, recovering Timm’s handgun and arresting him. This wasn’t Timm’s first brush with violence in a public setting.
In 2020, Timm was arrested in Florida after driving his van into a tent of Trump supporters, narrowly missing six volunteers before fleeing in his vehicle.
Now facing a Class A felony in Washington, Timm could receive a life sentence if convicted. His bail is set at $750,000, and prosecutors argue self-defense doesn’t apply.
Casey McNerthney from the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office noted that Timm, as the aggressor, cannot legally claim self-defense under Washington state law.
Powell’s family describes him as a resilient Black veteran who has overcome systemic injustice and personal challenges. They believe the attack was rooted in hate.
“Our dad was targeted in a senseless act of violence,” they wrote on a GoFundMe page, raising funds for medical bills, therapy, mobility aids, and living costs.
Social media has buzzed with outrage over the incident. A fellow Navy veteran commented online, arguing the charge should be upgraded to attempted murder.
The shooting has also reignited debates about gun violence, with some online voices urging a re-evaluation of U.S. gun laws in light of such violent encounters.