Man accuses 68 y/o dude in a wheel chair of stolen valor provokes a battle. Wheel chair man prices at him with a knife, pulls out an airsoft gun. Provoker pulls out a pistol from his man purse and blasts the man.
(wheel chair man survived, is a vet)pic.twitter.com/gqYi0HDIYj
— WeaponOutfitters.com (@WeaponOutfitter) August 13, 2025
On the night of July 31, 2025, a busy summer time evening at Seattle’s Pier 55 turned chaotic when a confrontation between two strangers erupted into gunfire in entrance of dozens of vacationers, households, and waterfront staff.
The shooter, later recognized as 32-year-old Gregory William Timm, accused 68-year-old wheelchair-bound avenue musician Harold James Powell of “stolen valor” — falsely claiming army service. The change escalated as Timm took a veteran patch from Powell’s belongings, prompting Powell to arm himself with a knife and have a holstered airsoft pistol at his aspect. Witnesses say Powell by no means raised or pointed the airsoft gun, however Timm stepped again, and in response to information reviews, pulled a .45-caliber handgun from his bag, and shot Powell point-blank within the chest.
Powell survived the capturing, however the violent encounter — captured on a number of cellular phone movies — has sparked each a authorized battle over self-defense and public debate over when armed residents ought to, and mustn’t, draw or use their weapons.
The Confrontation
Prosecutors say Gregory William Timm approached Powell exterior the Starbucks at Pier 55, demanding proof of his army service. Based on charging paperwork, Timm eliminated a veteran patch from Powell’s belongings whereas the handicapped musician was retrieving his pockets. Powell then armed himself with a knife and had a holstered airsoft pistol in his wheelchair — which resembled an actual firearm.
Witness video reveals Timm stepping again, drawing a .45-caliber handgun from a bag, and firing a single spherical into Powell’s chest. The capturing came about in broad daylight with bystanders — together with kids — close by.
After the shot, Timm put the gun away, raised his palms, and waited for the police. He was taken into custody by a Washington Division of Fish and Wildlife officer and later booked into King County Jail on $750,000 bail.
Authorized Arguments & Self-Protection Claims
Timm’s legal professional has instructed the capturing was self-defense, claiming Powell first pulled a knife. However prosecutors counter that self-defense is void if the shooter is the “first aggressor.”
King County Prosecutor’s Workplace spokesperson Casey McNerthney informed KIRO 7, “In case you provoke an assault upon your self, you lose the suitable to say self-defense.”
Timm’s previous can also be drawing consideration. In 2020, he drove a van right into a tent of Trump supporters in Jacksonville, Florida, for which he was convicted of prison mischief and served 60 days in jail. Prosecutors within the Seattle case argue he’s “more likely to commit a violent offense if launched.”
Group Affect & Mayor’s Response
Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell referred to as the incident “a focused altercation” and careworn that police presence and safety will proceed on the waterfront. Mayor Harrell then pivoted to “gun violence” because the trigger. “We’re getting about 5 weapons off the road a day — over 2,000 a yr — so we’re doing all the things we will,” Harrell stated, whereas expressing hope that such violence stays uncommon.
Kelsey Reidt, a waterfront employee, described Powell as a daily fixture within the space: “He’s often taking part in music and bringing a great vibe to the waterfront.”
Commentary: What Gun Homeowners Ought to Keep away from
Firearms trainers level out that this case is a textbook instance of what to not do. On this case, initiating a confrontation — particularly by bodily taking property — places you within the function of the aggressor. From that time, the regulation will see you as having forfeited any declare to self-defense.
If an armed citizen finds themselves in a verbal dispute:
Do Not Escalate — Stroll away until there’s a clear, fast risk to life.
By no means brandish or use a firearm to “win” an argument. Deadly power is for imminent, unavoidable hazard — not satisfaction or precept.
Bear in mind the witnesses — In a public place, dozens of cellular phone cameras can change into proof in courtroom. Your actions shall be judged body by body.
Had Timm disengaged and contacted authorities if he really believed a regulation was being damaged, this may have remained a heated dialog — not a prison case that would put him in jail for years.
Timm is due again in courtroom on August 18 for additional proceedings. If convicted of first-degree assault, he faces a prolonged jail sentence underneath Washington state regulation. In the meantime, Powell continues recovering from his accidents, and the incident serves as a stark reminder that ego-driven confrontations and undisciplined people with firearms are a harmful combine.
What do you suppose, who was proper and who was mistaken?
We’re in harmful occasions! We’re NOT assembly our funding targets! Will you assist out?
Armed Citizen Ends Lethal Knife Rampage in Spokane: A Case for Hid Carry Preparedness
5 Drills for Novices on the Vary
