“Cherokee Man Convicted of First-Degree Murder in Indian Country: James Buzzard’s Brutal Crime”

A federal jury has convicted James William Buzzard, a Cherokee citizen and Delaware county resident, of first-degree murder in Indian Country. The crime took place within the Cherokee Nation reservation. Buzzard was also convicted of assault with a dangerous weapon with intent to do bodily harm, as well as discharge of a firearm during the commission of a federal crime of violence.

The conviction comes after a prolonged and meticulous investigation by local, state, and federal law enforcement partners. U.S. Attorney Clinton Johnson emphasized that violent crime within the Northern District of Oklahoma will be thoroughly investigated and the perpetrators brought to justice.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, the crime occurred on August 1, 2019, near Jay, Oklahoma. Deputies from the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shooting and discovered Jerry Tapp deceased in his front yard. Another victim was found with a gunshot wound to her arm. The surviving victim told investigators that she heard a noise outside her home early that morning and was shot when she opened the door.

During the investigation, authorities located and seized multiple shell casings and found Cody Buzzard, son of James Buzzard, driving a vehicle matching the surviving victim’s description. Shell casings found at the crime scene were identified as having been fired from the same rifle. Facebook records of Cody Buzzard revealed inquiries about obtaining a vehicle and firearm, indicating that he had “business to tend to” and was going to “take care of a problem.”

During interviews with authorities, Dakota Buzzard, another son of James Buzzard, stated that he, Cody, and James drove to Tapp’s residence, waited for him to return from work, and shot and killed him. Prosecutors successfully proved that the Buzzards aided and abetted each other in the murder.

The two brothers involved in the case, both Cherokee citizens, had previously entered pleas. Cody Dwayne Buzzard pled guilty to second-degree murder in Indian Country, as well as brandishing and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence. Dakota Chase Buzzard pled guilty to conspiracy to carry, use, brandish, and discharge a firearm during a crime of violence.

The case was investigated by the FBI, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Reagan Reininger, Eric Johnston, and Elizabeth Dick prosecuted the case..