A man, known for previously disrupting a voter registration event for Trump, has been accused of shooting a 68-year-old man in a wheelchair in Seattle during an incident related to a military ID. This happened on July 31 along the bustling Alaska Way.
According to prosecutors, Gregory Timm, 32, confronted the victim and insisted on seeing his military identification, even removing a military patch from the victim’s belongings before the confrontation escalated.
In footage obtained by a local news outlet, it appears the victim retrieved what investigators identified as an Airsoft gun. This prompted Timm to quickly retreat, grab a real handgun from his bag, and fire at the victim.
Witnesses, including families, were startled as Timm fired the weapon, hitting the victim in the chest. Amidst the chaos, Timm reportedly shouted, “It’s okay, everyone!” as he collected his firearm.
“Show me your ID!” he demanded, before directing insults at the victim and eventually leaving the scene.
Further details reveal that the victim, who was somewhat of a local fixture known for his music and vibrant presence on the boardwalk, was rushed to the hospital in serious but stable condition.
Reported court documents indicated that just before the shooting, the victim had pulled out both a knife and an Airsoft gun. Timm’s defense argues that he acted in self-defense because the victim brandished a weapon first.
However, prosecutors assert that Timm was the instigator in this situation. A spokesperson from the King County prosecutor’s office noted that if you provoke a confrontation, you can forfeit your right to claim self-defense under state law.
If found guilty of first-degree assault, Timm may face significant prison time, potentially up to life under Washington state law.
Interestingly, Timm had made headlines back in 2020 when he drove into a Republican voter registration drive in Jacksonville, Florida, claiming that his actions were necessary due to his discontent with the administration.
When questioned about that event, Timm remarked that he felt compelled to act on his beliefs, even attracting comment from former President Trump, who warned about engaging with certain individuals.
In addition, Timm had a previous misdemeanor conviction in 2021 for a distantly related crime, though it remains unclear how this might impact his current charges in Washington.
