Teen who was charged as an adult in 2024 Christmas shooting sentenced Friday

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- 15-year-old Carter Dixon was sentenced to 16 years on Friday in connection with three separate cases. 

He was sentenced in adult court but is still being treated as a minor because of his age. 

The judge said Dixon will serve his sentence in a juvenile detention facility, then, after he turns 18 but before he turns 19, the Department of Corrections will give the judge a progress report. Then, there will be a hearing. From there, the judge decides what to do with his remaining time, depending on whether certain objectives are met. 

Dixon was formally charged as an adult in court for charges related to these incidents in March. 

The order to charge Dixon as an adult happened after South Bend police officers were dispatched on three different days last year —November 6th, 30th, and December 25th- to investigate a discharge of a firearm or the possession of a firearm by Dixon. You can read more about those cases here. 

Dixon entered a guilty plea in court over the summer in connection with the Christmas Day shooting that injured a teen girl on East Donald Street. The victim was shot in the face and survived. She had to undergo multiple surgeries. 

November 6th incident: 5 years 

November 30th incident: 5 years 

December 25th incident: 6 years