Delco Man Bought Guns Used In Violent Crimes: Authorities

SHARON HILL, PA — A Delaware County man is accused of purchasing guns in the Philadelphia region that were later used in violent crimes in Philadelphia.

The Bucks County District Attorney's Office said that Tahir Zahir, 29, of Sharon Hill, purchased 16 firearms between August 2018, and June 23, 2023, from gun stores in Delaware, Bucks, Lancaster, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties.

Zahir purchased eight Glocks, four of which were later recovered in Philadelphia. Some of the guns were linked to shootings and other criminal activity in Philadelphia, authorities said.

One gun was found in the possession of a known Philadelphia gang member. Of the four firearms recovered, only two had been reported stolen, authorities said.

Zahir was arraigned Wednesday by Magisterial District Judge Charles D. Jonas and was sent to Bucks County Correctional Facility under $1 million bail.

He faces felony charges of dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, making false statements on firearm purchase forms, unlawful sales of firearms, sales to an ineligible transferee, firearm ownership —duty of other persons, and criminal conspiracy. He was also charged with statements under penalty and false reports.

In an investigation involving six law enforcement agencies, detectives found that Zahir exhibited numerous indicators of being a straw purchaser, including purchasing a sizeable number of firearms within a short amount of time and purchasing the same firearm on several occasions.