Cody Dwayne Buzzard, Murder, Oklahoma 2023

A 28-year-old man pleaded guilty Thursday in federal court for taking part in the 2019 Delaware County murder of Jerry Tapp and the shooting of a second victim, announced U.S. Attorney Clint Johnson.

Cody Dwayne Buzzard pleaded guilty to second degree murder in Indian Country and brandishing and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

On Aug. 1, 2019, the Delaware County Sheriff's Office responded to a 911 call reporting a shooting near Jay. Deputies discovered Jerry Tapp deceased in his front yard. It appeared that Tapp sustained multiple gunshot wounds to his body and that a second victim had sustained a gunshot wound to her arm.

According to court documents, the victim told investigators that she heard a noise outside the home early that morning and thought Tapp had forgotten his keys to the house. When she turned on the light and opened the door, she heard gunfire and felt a sudden pain in her right wrist. She then shut and locked the front door, crawled to another room, and called 911.

At 9:30 am the day of the crime, Dakota was located by deputies from the McDonald County Sheriff's Office while driving a white 4-door Altima matching the victim's description. OSBI agents later found four .22 caliber spent casings inside the vehicle and a .22 caliber rifle and bullets located behind a section of drywall in another individual's residence who allegedly hid the firearm for the Buzzards.

During an interview with authorities, Dakota allegedly stated that he, James, and Cody Buzzard drove toward Tapp's residence, parked up the road from the home, and waited for him to return from work. James Buzzard allegedly told his sons to retrieve a loaded .22 caliber rifle from the trunk of the car.

Prosecutors allege the Buzzards aided and abetted one another to shoot and kill Tapp and then shoot his girlfriend. The FBI, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI), Delaware County Sheriff's Office, and McDonald County Sheriff's Office conducted the investigation.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Ben Tonkin and Victor A.S. Régal are prosecuting the case. Cody Dwayne Buzzard pleaded guilty and is facing up to 25 years in prison for second degree murder in Indian Country and brandishing and discharging a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence.

Source: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndok/pr/man-pleads-guilty-2019-delaware-county-murder-0