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Tulsa Man Sentenced to Life in Prison for Murder
On [no date specified], U.S. District Judge Gregory K. Frizzell sentenced James William Buzzard, 52, to life imprisonment, plus 10 years, for first-degree murder and assault in Indian Country. The sentencing comes after a jury convicted Buzzard of First Degree Murder in Indian Country, Assault with a Dangerous Weapon with Intent to do Bodily Harm in Indian County, and Carrying, Using, or Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence.
The case began in August 2019, when the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call about a shooting. Deputies discovered Jerry Tapp deceased in his front yard with multiple gunshot wounds. A second victim was found alive, shot in the arm. Witness interviews led law enforcement to Dakota Buzzard, who was driving a white, 4-door Altima, matching the description of the vehicle seen leaving the scene.
Court documents revealed that the defendants, including James Buzzard’s sons Cody Dwayne Buzzard and Dakota Chase Buzzard, waited for Jerry Tapp to return home from work. Once Jerry Tapp exited the vehicle, James Buzzard shot at Jerry, and handed the gun to Cody Buzzard, who continued shooting.
James William Buzzard’s sons, Cody Dwayne Buzzard and Dakota Chase Buzzard, pleaded guilty to their involvement in the murder. Cody Dwayne Buzzard, 31, pled guilty to Second Degree Murder in Indian Country, and Carrying, Using, Brandishing, and Discharging a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Judge Frizzell ordered Cody Buzzard to serve 300 months’ imprisonment, followed by five years of supervised release.
Dakota Chase Buzzard, 23, pled guilty to Conspiracy to Carry, Use, Brandish, and Discharge a Firearm During and in Relation to a Crime of Violence. Judge Frizzell ordered Dakota Buzzard to serve 78 months’ imprisonment, followed by three years of supervised release.
The FBI, the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation, and the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office investigated the case, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Reagan Reininger and Eric O. Johnston prosecuted the case. The investigation and prosecution were a collaborative effort to bring justice to the victims and their families.
Key Facts
- State: Oklahoma
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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