The possibility of criminal charges apparently has evaporated like water in a wash bucket that also contains a Belgian gun, Colts receiver Marvin Harrison has been sued by the man who was shot in April by the weapon that Harrison owns, according to David Gambacorta of the Philadelphia Daily News.

“The defendant intentionally and outrageously shot the plaintiff,” asserts the civil complaint filed by David Dixon.

We’re confused by this development, given past reports that Harrison wasn’t charged criminally for the GUN PLAY because the victims (Dixon and a young bystander struck by flying glass) had been “less than fully cooperative.”

Well, one of them is talking a blue streak now, Jack.

“Look, it’s our position that Marvin Harrison was the trigger man,” Dixon’s lawyer said.

Actually, Dixon initially told police that he had been wounded while driving in West Philadelphia.  Dixon then recanted and said that Harrison shot him.  As a result of the flip-flop, Dixon has been charged with making a false report to police.  (It’s unclear at this point which report the police regard to be false; perhaps it doesn’t matter.)

As the civil litigation unfolds, Harrison will eventually be required to testify under oath at a deposition.  But Harrison notoriously avoids speaking to the media (or, possibly, to anyone).  Moreover, he could invoke the Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination, which would protect him from a prosecution but which would be the kiss of death for the civil suit, during which the assertion of the Fifth Amendment rights would be admissible at trial, prompting most reasonable jurors to conclude that Harrison did it.

This development also cries out for a full explanation from the authorities in Philly regarding the failure to file charges against Harrison, given that the guy who was on the wrong end of the gun Harrison owns says that Harrison was the TRIGGER MAN.