A man previously known for driving his vehicle into a Trump voter registration drive is now facing charges for allegedly shooting a wheelchair-bound man in Seattle. The incident occurred on July 31 along the bustling Alaskan Way boardwalk. The accused, Gregory Timm, 32, reportedly confronted the 68-year-old victim about his military service.
According to the charges, Timm demanded to see the older man’s military ID and removed a military patch from his belongings. This led to the victim drawing what was later identified as an airsoft gun. Timm, in response, pulled out a real firearm from his bag and shot the victim in the chest at close range. The incident caused panic among the crowd, which included families with children.
Timm was heard shouting at the victim to show his ID and questioning why the victim had pulled a gun on him. After the shooting, Timm put his gun away and instructed the wounded man to do the same. He then raised his hands and apologized to the shocked bystanders.
Police arrested Timm at the scene without any further incidents. He was charged with first-degree assault, a class A felony, in King County and is currently held on a $750,000 bail. The victim, known for playing music and spreading positivity along the boardwalk, was taken to the hospital in serious but stable condition.
Court documents reveal that the victim had also pulled out a knife before being shot. Timm’s defense attorney is arguing that his client acted in self-defense as the victim had drawn a gun first. However, King County prosecutors maintain that Timm was the instigator of the confrontation.
“If you’re the one who’s the first aggressor who provokes an altercation, you lose the right to claim self-defense effectively under state law,” said Casey McNerthney, a spokesperson for the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office. If convicted of first-degree assault under Washington law, Timm could face a life sentence.
In 2020, Timm was involved in another incident where he drove his car into a Republican Party voter registration drive in Jacksonville, Florida. He was later arrested at his home where he admitted to disliking President Trump and saw his actions as his “duty.” He was convicted of criminal mischief, a second-degree misdemeanor, in 2021. Authorities are currently evaluating whether this conviction can be used in the current Washington case.