WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — A convicted felon has been accused of attempted murder after firing shots at a man walking in Downtown West Palm Beach.
The West Palm Beach Police Department (WPBPD) stated that on Wednesday at around 10:05 p.m., they had responded to 610 5th Street in Downtown West Palm Beach regarding a Shotspotter Activation, which alerted them that four rounds of gunfire.
Once on scene, detectives stated that they were stopped by the victim on the corner of 4th Street and North Sapodilla Avenue, where he said he was just shot at.
The probable cause affidavit notes that moments later, the victim saw the suspect, later identified as 61-year-old Timothy Hatten, walking out of an alley.
WPBPD stated that they then attempted to stop Hatten, to which he fled on foot on North Sapodilla Avenue; the officer eventually caught up to Hatten, to which he complied with being apprehended.
Another WPBPD officer took over while the other went back to check on the victim. The affidavit notes that the other officer ran a background check on Hatten, in which he was cleared and released due to no outstanding warrants.
The victim told an officer that he was walking to his girlfriend’s house located on 5th Street and saw Hatten walking on the other side of the street. The victim continued to tell WBPD that Hatten had a gun in his hands and cocked the slide to the rear, loading a live round into the chamber.
The victim noted this made him fear for his life, prompting him to start running away. After he began running, the victim stated that Hatten began firing at him with his gun.
While the officer was interviewing the victim, Hatten reportedly returned to the scene, and the victim identified him again as the shooter.
Hatten was detained for a second time and placed in a patrol car, where he denied his involvement in the shooting after being read his Miranda rights. He confessed to the officers that he is a convicted felon and acknowledged that he knew he was not allowed to possess a firearm, a conviction he received on December 7, 2022.
A K-9 officer from WPBPD responded to the shooting scene and discovered a handgun, which had been reported stolen in a separate case. WPBPD also reported finding four shell casings at the scene.
Hatten has been accused of attempted first-degree murder with a firearm and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
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Source: cbs12
