Man Gets Six Years for Stolen Gun in Normal

Tyshon L. Fanning pleaded guilty to possessing a stolen firearm and obstructing a peace officer after a chase in Normal.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Property Crime

Man Gets Six Years for Stolen Gun in Normal

Tyshon L. Fanning pleaded guilty to possession of a stolen firearm and was sentenced to six years in prison by Judge Jason Chambers. He also pleaded guilty to obstructing a peace officer and received one year, with both terms to be served concurrently.

Why it matters

The case shows how a traffic stop can escalate into multiple charges when a stolen weapon and drugs are found in a vehicle. Fanning's sentence reflects the weight courts place on illegal firearm possession.

Fanning received six years for possession of a stolen firearm and one year for obstructing a peace officer, to be served concurrently, with credit for 278 days already served. The extraction does not state whether further proceedings or an appeal are planned.

The players

Tyshon L. Fanning

The defendant who pleaded guilty to possessing a stolen firearm and obstructing a peace officer.

Judge Jason Chambers

The judge who sentenced Fanning in the case.

The details

Officers pulled Fanning over on October 25, 2025, while he was driving through Normal and was the sole occupant. When he ran south across Pine Street and was chased by multiple officers, they later found an uncased loaded 9 mm pistol under the driver's seat that had been reported stolen in September 2024, along with 61.5 grams of cannabis in plastic baggies.

September 2024: A Bloomington resident reported the pistol stolen.
October 25, 2025: Officers stopped Fanning and chased him in Normal.
November 3, 2026: Fanning accepted a plea and was sentenced to six years.

Legal Context

Illinois treats possession of a stolen firearm as a serious felony, and this sentence applies that statute alongside a separate obstruction charge. Concurrent terms, as ordered here, are a common outcome when multiple offenses arise from one incident.

Residents who own firearms or vehicles should secure them, since the stolen pistol and vehicle in this case were taken from homes. Local police also used surveillance footage to identify a suspect, which shows how such investigations can proceed.

The takeaway

Securing firearms and vehicles at home reduces the chance they will be stolen and used in other crimes. Reporting theft quickly, as the Bloomington resident did, can help police link weapons to later incidents.