Convicted: James Buzzard Guilty of First-Degree Murder and Assault in Indian Country

A federal jury has convicted James William Buzzard, a Cherokee citizen and resident of Delaware County, of first-degree murder in Indian Country, assault with a dangerous weapon, and discharge of a firearm during the commission of a federal crime of violence. The crime took place within the Cherokee Nation reservation.

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, when law enforcement responded to a shooting near Jay, Oklahoma. Jerry Tapp was found deceased in his front yard, while another victim had sustained a gunshot wound to her arm. The surviving victim reported hearing a noise outside her home and, upon investigating, was shot in the wrist. She managed to crawl to safety and call 911.

During the investigation, law enforcement located Dakota Buzzard, son of James Buzzard, driving a vehicle matching the surviving victim’s description. Shell casings were found inside the vehicle, and further investigation revealed that they matched the casings found at the crime scene. In addition, Facebook records of another son, Cody Buzzard, indicated that he had made inquiries about acquiring a vehicle and firearm the day before the shooting.

During interviews with authorities, Dakota Buzzard confessed that he, Cody, and James Buzzard had followed Tapp to his home and shot and killed him. Prosecutors successfully proved that the Buzzard brothers had aided and abetted each other in committing the crimes.

Both Cody and Dakota Buzzard, who are also Cherokee citizens, had previously entered guilty pleas. Cody pled guilty to second degree murder and brandishing and discharging a firearm, while Dakota pled to conspiracy to carry, use, brandish, and discharge a firearm.

The FBI, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office worked together to investigate this case. The prosecution was handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Reagan Reininger, Eric Johnston, and Elizabeth Dick..