68-year-old Navy veteran shot in the chest over false stolen valor claim

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SEATTLE — A 68-year-old Navy veteran who was shot in the chest on Seattle’s waterfront says he’s focusing on healing after surviving what he calls a point-blank attack.

Harold Powell Sr., who says he served 14 years in the U.S. Navy submarine service, was performing as a street entertainer near the waterfront on July 31 when Gregory Timm approached him and accused him of being a “fake veteran,” according to police and Powell.

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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 said in an interview Thursday with KING 5.

Powell said he tried to retrieve identification from his bag to prove his service, but the situation turned physical.

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He grabbed my belongings,” Powell said. Police said Timm ripped a military patch from Powell’s items.

“So, I had a knife. I took my knife out,” Powell said.

Witnesses told police that when Timm did not back away, Powell displayed a holstered airsoft gun. Timm then pulled a firearm from his backpack and shot Powell in the chest.

“I’ve been shot point blank with a 45. I’m dead,” Powell said, recalling his thoughts.

Police and paramedics quickly responded to the scene, taking Timm into custody and rushing Powell to the hospital.

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