Report: FBI to Probe Marvin Harrison Gun Case

The FBI has joined Philadelphia police in an investigation into whether the fatal shooting of a drug dealer was connected to an earlier incident, one in which the victim claimed that he was shot at by former Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Marvin Harrison, ESPN reported Thursday.

Dwight Dixon was killed in Philadelphia on July 21, 2009, when an unknown gunman fired six shots into his Toyota Camry -- four times through the back window and two more through the passenger's side window.

ESPN reported that video surveillance shows the gunman fleeing the scene wearing a "hooded sweatshirt, jeans and white sneakers." His head was lowered, obscuring his identity, the report stated.

Dixon, who was shot in the chest and stomach, was gunned down in an area close to two establishments owned by Harrison, a bar called Playmakers and a car wash.

While the 33-year-old Dixon later lapsed into a coma and died, ESPN reported he was able to tell police at the scene that he believed the July 2009 shooting was related to an incident in April 2008, when his vehicle was sprayed with bullets, leaving Dixon with a hole in his left hand.

Dixon died on Sept. 4, 2009, before police could interview him further.

Prior to his death, however, Dixon told ESPN that Harrison had shot at his truck in the aforementioned April 2008 incident -- Dixon said the bullets fired then were "too many to count."

"He raises the guns up and started shooting," Dixon said of Harrison to ESPN. "He raised both his hands up and started shooting at [my] truck."

To illustrate his point, Dixon said that his truck was inundated with so many bullets in the incident that "the tires were all shot out, the windows were shot out."

Dixon's claims have been denied by Harrison, who -- through his attorney
-- declined to comment to ESPN about Thursday's report.

There is strong evidence that links Harrison to the April 2008 shooting, including police ballistics tests that show a gun used in the incident was registered to Harrison, the report said. Furthermore, a second witness, Robert Nixon, told ESPN last January that he saw Harrison fire a gun at the scene.

Nixon, who was wounded by stray gunfire, filed a civil suit against Harrison, the report stated. Harrison, for his part, reportedly denied having the gun with him the day of the April 2008 shooting.

Philadelphia's District Attorney did not bring charges against anyone in the case. ESPN reported that the city's DA could not charge anyone solely on the basis of the accounts of the aforementioned witnesses.

However, the July 2009 shooting brought the previous case back to the forefront. The case's reemergence also coincides with the election of a new DA in Philadelphia -- ESPN reported that "a task force of elite Philadelphia homicide investigators and the FBI is taking a fresh look at the shooting."

"We're looking for a motive of who would want to kill Dixon, so it's common sense to go back to that first shooting," a law enforcement source told ESPN. "The source said that the FBI is helping to comb through old evidence and seek out new informants, one of whom has already been said to have supplied fresh information."

A 13-year NFL standout, Harrison played his entire career with the Indianapolis Colts, teaming up with quarterback Peyton Manning to form one of the most prolific duos in league history. Harrison was released by his own request after the 2008 season and did not play in 2009.