Fire Marshal Convicted After Firing Gunshots At Man In Chester Co.: DA

WEST CHESTER, PA — A fire marshal has been convicted after firing multiple gunshots at someone who he claimed was involved in setting a fire in Chester County, the district attorney's office said.

Timothy Hubbard, 50, of Charlestown Township, was convicted of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and related counts.

The incident occurred on June 2023.

Hubbard was on the scene of a fire investigation when he confronted someone who he suspected was involved in starting the blaze, according to officials.

According to affidavit of probable cause, the man was in a similar car to one that he had identified in surveillance footage as possibly belonging to the suspect.

This man, the victim, got into a vehicle and drove away with Hubbard in pursuit. That's when Hubbard fired at least two gunshots at the suspect, hitting the rear window and trunk of the vehicle, police said.

Hubbard then got in his vehicle and crashed into the suspect's vehicle, and used it to block the victim from leaving the scene, according to authorities.

When state troopers interviewed Hubbard later, he "misrepresented what happened," according to the DA's office, falsely claiming that the victim had been the aggressor.

"Hubbard shot at someone without justification," Chester County District Attorney Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe said in a statement. "Being a Fire Marshal does not give him a free pass to endanger others.”

Hubbard is no longer the fire marshal for Charlestown. He was convicted after a four day trial before Judge Allison Bell Royer. Sentencing is forthcoming.