Tahir Dixon is led from the county courthouse following a preliminary hearing in January 2025. SUN-GAZETTE FILE PHOTO

A Williamsport teen who pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm by a minor and recklessly endangering another person in December 2025, was sentenced to 54 months probation by Lycoming County Judge Ryan Tira Tuesday morning.

Tahir A. Dixon, 19, of Williamsport, originally faced additional charges, including two counts of aggravated assault and one count of carrying a firearm without a license for firing shots at a black Nissan as it traveled past him along Second Avenue in September 2024.

A juvenile witness, familiar with Dixon, 17 at the time, through his friendship with one of her cousins, was called as the sole witness to the case during a January 2025 preliminary hearing.

The witness testified that she was retrieving items from her mom’s vehicle when she observed Dixon from roughly 25 feet away and another individual only identified as “Three Times” walking in the area shortly before shots rang out.

Dixon’s legal troubles do not end with this sentencing, as he faces charges of burglary, theft, receiving, criminal trespassing, criminal mischief and possession of an instrument of crime for his involvement in the June 6, 2025 burglary at the National Range and Armory, 531 Washington Blvd., during which two rifles were stolen, police said.

At the time of the break in, Dixon was out on bail for the Second Avenue shooting.

Dixon, along with another man, 19-year-old Shamier James Gadson, of Philadelphia, arrested for his involvement, were indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of stealing firearms from a licensed dealer and possession of stolen firearms, it was announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania on Dec. 11.

In arguing for a sentence of probation, Deputy Public Defender Matthew Welickovitch argued that Dixon’s background, described as “not the best,” age at the time of the offense and the significance of his federal involvement should be factored into any sentence imposed on the state charges.

A tentative plea agreement for the federal charges has been reached, according to Federal Public Defender Amanda Gaynor, Welickovitch told the court.

Dixon will likely be sentenced, per the agreement, to three years or more in prison, Welickovitch said.

Dixon’s federal sentence could serve as a wake-up call, as there are many rehabilitative programs available to inmates, the public defender said, adding, “I’ve seen them work many times.”

Assistant District Attorney Lindsay Sweeley, however, argued that Dixon’s age and criminal background mandated a stronger sentence.

“He’s 19-years-old and already has five juvenile and three adult arrests. It’s obvious that he has not learned his lesson at this point,” the ADA told Tira.

Supervision beyond any upcoming federal jail time may help Dixon to lead a more productive, lawful life, she said.

“Thus far, he’s proven incapable of doing that,” Sweeley said.

“Mr. Dixon’s pre-sentence report is not very good, and in fact, leans more into the rationale for an aggravated sentence,” Tira said.

“What troubles me is that he seems to lack the understanding of the seriousness of firing into an occupied, moving vehicle,” the judge said, adding that Dixon did not hesitate to do so.

“Its important that he gets treatment during his involvement with the federal system, and I hope this can be the turning point for him,” Tira said.