Marvin Harrison Shooting: GQ Sheds New Light On Gun Incident

UPDATE: GQ follows up to report that new Philadelphia district attorney Seth Williams is re-examining the shooting of Dwight Dixon. ESPN reported yesterday that the FBI is looking at the case as well.

EARLIER:

Marvin Harrison, the former Indianapolis Colt and one of the most dominant wide receivers of the past decade, has long been linked to a 2008 shooting in Philadelphia. The victim, Dwight Dixon, survived the shooting and maintained that Harrison was the gunman. Three months later, Dixon was shot again; he permanently lost consciousness from the second shooting and died last September.

While police sources said six bullet casings found after the shooting, which occurred near a car wash owned by Harrison, were fired from the wide receiver's gun, Philadelphia's district attorney said charges would not be filed against Harrison due to a lack of credible witnesses.

Today, GQ published a long report on the shooting and its aftermath. The entire piece is fascinating and absolutely worth reading. After poring through police reports, court filings and conducting an array of interviews, Jason Fagone describes what may have happened on the day of the original shooting:

Broad daylight in North Philadelphia. April 29, 2008--a Tuesday. The corner of 25th Street and Thompson, about seven blocks north of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the steps Rocky climbed. A block of brick row houses, a church with a rubbed-out sign, a Hispanic grocery, a vacant lot. In one sense, the presence of a future Hall of Famer at this seedy vortex of the city -- Harrison, eight-time Pro Bowl wide receiver with the Indianapolis Colts, then at the tail end of a thirteen-season career and a $67 million contract -- was incongruous. Especially given that Harrison, who is usually described as "quiet" and "humble," was noisily stomping the fat man in the face and gut.

To Nixon, the fat man looked semi-conscious.

And later:

Nixon was across the street and thirty yards away when Harrison started shooting. Pop pop pop pop pop pop -- a great staccato gust of bullets. Steadily, Nixon says, Harrison unloaded both guns into the fat man's car, stippling the red Toyota Tundra with bullet holes as the fat man ducked in his seat. Eventually, the fat man sat up and sped off, heading straight toward Nixon's position as Harrison darted into the street and continued to shoot.

Be sure to check out the entire article at GQ's web site.

Comments

[JJK]

10:50 AM on 01/17/2010

Amazing.

Marvin Harrison apparently gets caught pummeling someone on the street in broad daylight before shooting a magazine of bullets into his car and the Colts keep their squeaky clean, All America Image. The New England Patriots get caught shooting sideline videos against the rules and get pilloried in the media all across the country.

Great set of values there, NFL!

[sambaso777]

12:35 PM on 01/17/2010

If you can't see the difference between a player deciding to go wild west on someone and an entire staff that participates in cheating, there is no point in explaining it.

[Seppuku]

10:19 AM on 01/17/2010

I'm sorry, this was a reporter's story from GQ MAGAZINE!!!??? If they were uncovering something in the fashion industry I might take notice...but not this. Harrison's case was big news in Philly. It was scrutinized and was pending for months before decisions were made. I would be surprised if this is anything but sensationalism. Also, anyone who follows sports knows Harrison is NOT a Gansta!!! ...a pretty quiet straight-laced guy. That's why you rarely hear his name even though only J Rice was better.

[Catfish1968]

12:03 PM on 01/17/2010

Maxim had stories on Bin La Den way before 9/11.

[jcwtts1]

01:27 PM on 01/17/2010

so did a lot of people. Did Maxim have an article entitled plans will fly into buildings? No. Bill Clinton tried to kill Bin Ladin. That isn't a stretch.

[Televangefrist]

04:55 PM on 01/17/2010

And OJ was one of the most celebrated and respected athletes in America... once.
You don't know people just because they're famous for years.
He has always been quiet and productive, but again for some people, even their own families never really "know" them.

[AmericanLeslie]

10:14 AM on 01/17/2010

I'm so sick of hearing about professional athletes making millions of dollars and still living the thug life. When they had nothing, most of them swore that if they just made it to the professional level they would ensure that the income they made would change their lives. But as we've seen too many times even with the mega contracts, they continue to be athletic thugs. Part of the blame is ours as a society that bestows super star status and instant character passes on people with athletic skills. Another portion of the blame must be placed on the schools - high schools, colleges and universities - that teach them how to be better athletes but spend no time teaching them how to be better men. Infact, when they act up in school, the instituttions are more likely to cover up their wrongdoings and/or turn their heads especially if they are really talented money-makers for thier respective schools. Lastly, an equal share of the blame belongs to the athletes themselves. Having enormous athletic talent does not give one an excuse to act above the law or to act with less character than the rest of us are expected to have. If one doesn't know how to abandon the thug life, perhaps some of their earliest new wealth should be used to build the character that was ignored throughout the years during which they were being groomed to be athletic stars.

[RGreen7756]

01:43 PM on 01/17/2010

For an educated black woman, in this instance, you have no idea what you are talking about.

[AmericanLeslie]

02:28 PM on 01/17/2010

as an educated black woman with a great deal of experience with professional athletes and the school systems that have allowed them to get away with a lot of criminal activity just because they were great athleles, I know exactly what I'm talking about...do your own research and find out how many professional athletes had had problems with guns, drugs, violence, spousal abuse, animal abuse, alcohol, rape etc. despite their enormous wealth. When you get through with that, do some reading on how many of them are dead-beat dads. The numbers are astounding and yet they are not held accountable especially by their excuse-providing fans and adorers. Re-read some of the pathetic comments in this thread from people who say things like "even if he did kill somebody, shouldn't he be given another chance like michael vick?" Stop being a sports groupie, research the facts and then get back to me.

[RGreen7756]

01:49 PM on 01/17/2010

No one has accused Marvin of living a "thug" life. He has never been accused of anything that needed to be covered up. If you have to go off on a diatribe of celebrity life, please do it someone else and not besmirch someone's reputation to get across your social gospel. This is a specific case about a specific individual and your comments on thugs, society, sports, celebrity does not apply here. No one would accuse Marvin Harrison of being a "thug." Do you know anything about hiim?

[AmericanLeslie]

03:30 PM on 01/17/2010

Talk to the FBI and ask why they are investigating him. My comment was applicable to athletes who fill the need to carry guns, shoot people and associate with people who do these and other character-less things. And BTW reading really is fundamental. I clearly stated that I personally was sick of hearing about these types of incidents involving professional athletes.

[Joe McMahon]

08:57 AM on 01/17/2010

This has not been in the news at all and Marvin Harrison may have killed somebody, yet Chad Ocho Cinco gets fined 100K every time he puts on a sombrero. The NFL needs to start putting things in perspective and let the good guys like Chad be the role model because the role models they've created are not good people. Everyone is supposed to look up to Marvin cause he is "humble" and "quiet" yet he owns a gun and possibly shot someone, while Chad's biggest offense is too much xbox in one night and a few jokes on the field. Professional sports don't do a good job of figuring out which icons should be looked up to.

[RGreen7756]

01:44 PM on 01/17/2010

This was in the news and Marvin was never accused of anyone. You should stick to supporting Mr. Ochocinco (I have no idea of what happened there and I don't know him) and not bashing someone else to prove your point. Apples and oranges.

[RGreen7756]

08:15 AM on 01/17/2010

Marvin Harrison lived in the 2400 block of Thompson Street at least as early as his Roman Catholic High School days. His family continued to live there during his time at Syracuse University. I have known him since he was in high school. He continues to have family and business interests in that neighborhood. People are always saying that people who make it should reach back to help those who rem ain, but when they do they are slammed the way some on here are slamming him. He IS a gentle and humble person. I don't know what was involved in the shootings, like everyone else on here. I do, however, know Marvin Harrison personally and am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt until a court case ensues. My best to his mother, sister and extended family.

[rexx18]

10:33 AM on 01/17/2010

Even if he did shoot somebody, he should be a given second chance like Michael Vick. Good people, all, and occasionally mistakes are made.

[jcwtts1]

01:28 PM on 01/17/2010

Because killing dogs is the same as killing people.

[Televangefrist]

05:04 PM on 01/17/2010

That's fine but if these things are true, which I have no idea if they are, then punishment should come first, which means he would need to spend more time in prison than Vick and be too old for any 2nd chance in the NFL (wasn't he retired anyway, or very near it?).

He's has always acted classy on the field but I mentioned in another post that, for some folks, even their own families never truly know them. As for his motives for doing business in his "old neighborhood," I don't think it matters here, he could easily be credited with "giving back" or not "abandoning" his friends so that point is irrelevant.

[kooosh]

05:00 AM on 01/17/2010

Marvin Harrison fans don't come much bigger than myself. I don't want to believe it.

Nothing I know about the man indicates he is capable of this. It just runs counter to everything I think about Marvin. Then again, the guy has always been an enigma.

I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt on this. Hopefully the truth, whatever it may be, will come out.

[peowlemeow]

11:50 PM on 01/16/2010

Nixon was shot,unnoticed and it's his story that is taken as gospel ? I think it's a plausible story,but guns are available throughout PA. So if the business had them on the premises,anyone could have used them.Unfortunately,blacks and traditionally black neighborhoods have reputations,earned or otherwise for taking care of their own business and like a theatrical Chinatown clam up around investigations of almost any sort.Any shooting in any city should be pounced on ,but where gun ownership is not restricted and even expected it can be difficult and almost fruitless to try and get a witness to shoplifting,let alone felonious assault or murder.

[RealProgressNow]

04:06 PM on 01/16/2010

Look, this is tragic and everything, but Marvin Harrison is the only football player to come through Philly that could actually hit what he was aiming at in the past decade.

[Wood]

11:29 PM on 01/16/2010

That's a cheap shot.. no pun intended ;-\

[RealProgressNow]

10:21 AM on 01/17/2010

Forgive me, sometimes I just shoot from the hip...pun INTENDED.

[vet-of4renwarz]

03:23 PM on 01/16/2010

Wow... who knew GQ had an 'i-team' investigator... doing what local police, fbi, and DA couldn't do.. and if one were to bother to read the whole article, majority of the information, the actual accusation that MH shot someone came from one person... perhaps it's best to leave CSI to the pros... i thought unlike in the military, you are innocent until proven guilty... (military-you are guilty until proven innocent)

also, note at the bottom of the article: *Re-created from interviews, court filings, and police reports, and told through the eyes of Robert Nixon.

[Danny Sherwood]

03:05 PM on 01/16/2010

Another case of a multi-millionaire athlete thinking he's above the law.

[BigHound1]

11:18 PM on 01/16/2010

Maybe so, maybe not. I suppose many people will convict him without his day in court. It's becoming business as usual these days.

[HoosierRadical]

03:04 PM on 01/16/2010

Marvin Harrison like countless other men are too personally invested in image and bravado. It was a good thing that he stayed connected to the old neighborhood, and opened businesses which created jobs for some people namely his family members.

It is a shame that he couldn't leave that "wannabe gansta bs" behind, that stuff is for immature adolescents not grown responsible men. Men create and bring stability and peace to dangerous crime infested neighborhoods, not perpetrate said violence.

I just hope justice prevails.

[Danny Dougherty]

05:48 PM on 01/16/2010

Although one can't condone what is alleged by the gq story, I wonder if you in fact read it?
I don't get the feeling that Marrvin Harrison is a "wannabe gansta" at all... If you read the piece, I feel, he comes off as as a serious guy, who was put into a really bad spot, by a guy who was in fact a criminal, who tried to get into his bar with a guy who was carrying a gun, who was also a known drug dealer, who threatened his life, and was clearly a very bad guy... like I said I do not condone what may ( in terms of Harrison's involvement) have happened, but I do sympathize with Marvin, this is not the type of person you call the cops on, and they leave you alone...

[TheBMChief]

08:27 PM on 01/16/2010

He's a wannabe gangsta who likes gangsta rap and is a bolla

[HoosierRadical]

09:01 PM on 01/16/2010

Just because I don't share your same "feeling" about Marvin Harrison directly shooting a person parked in a car in broad daylight , does not mean that I didn't read the article, it means you and I have different opinions. I stand by what I wrote.

[wildbil546]

04:01 AM on 01/17/2010

I agree. Harrison never made a peep on the field...do much so people called him out over the years because he was so reserved.

[SoutheastBeast]

02:26 PM on 01/16/2010

A few thoughts.

I live in a tough neighborhood and I play it clean. I completely understand what it's like to be bullied by the neighborhood tough guy and wanting revenge. But I also understand that revenge is a slippery slope that leads to jail or the morgue. Harrison should have stayed the hell away from his businesses and let his employees handle people like Pop. He was crazy to get personally involved.

As much empathy as I have for Harrison, if this story is true (which is far from certain) then Harrison belongs in jail. Randomly shooting in a crowded street, almost shooting a baby and nearly killing an innocent bystander, is beyond the pale.

They will never be able to convict Harrison. The star witness is a convict who lied about the actual events of the shooting. There is no way you can get a conviction when you're asking the jury to believe some parts of the witness's story and ignore other parts.

[highflag]

05:33 PM on 01/16/2010

I agree with most of your comments, but suggesting that Harrison stay away from his businesses seems to miss a critical component of the story.

Assuming that the author's reporting of his lack of interaction with teammates and the public during his football career is accurate, it would have been impossible for him to remove himself from the ghetto.

Despite his wealth, it's obvious that this was the only place where he felt at home. Otherwise he would have spent his days in his suburban McMansion. Philadelphia is his comfort zone...

[SoutheastBeast]

05:59 PM on 01/16/2010

Bro,

None of that matters. When you take a guy who just signed a $65 million contract, and put him in the hood, there's gonna be trouble. This story is a case in point.

[Zyzzygowski]

11:48 AM on 01/16/2010

"Dixon" or "Nixon"?

If that cannot be gotten straight, what else has been gotten wrong?

[RamonBackwards]

01:53 PM on 01/16/2010

Z-guy fail. It's both. Nixon was watching Dixon get pummeled.

[kevski]

11:28 PM on 01/15/2010

I just read the story on the GQ website, interesting but hard to follow. The way the article was written reminds me of descriptive essays I had to write in college, and they were bad LOL

[RamonBackwards]

01:53 PM on 01/16/2010

The flaw is in the reader. The article was rather awesome.

[vet-of4renwarz]

03:26 PM on 01/16/2010

Of course it's awesome when you add fiction to evidence... note the small * at the bottom of the article... *Re-created from interviews, court filings, and police reports, and told through the eyes of Robert Nixon.

[SouthSideHooligan]

03:48 PM on 01/16/2010

careful you don't fall of your horse.

[TotalRecall9]

08:28 PM on 01/15/2010

Gee, how bad does it have to get for the DAs to press charges and get convictions against star athletes and any other rich, famous person?!?!?