Cherokee man sentenced to 30 years in prison for deadly shooting
The United States Department of Justice said 33-year-old Brandon Tyler Buchanan shot and killed Kobe Toineeta in November 2022.Officials said Buchanan is an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.
Court records and proceedings said officers with the Cherokee Indian Police Department (CIPD) responded to a 911 call reporting a shooting on Nov. 11, 2022.
Man sentenced to life in prison for cold case murder in Indian Country
Upon arrival, officers said Buchanan admitted to shooting someone. Officers then found Toineeta's body, who had been shot five times.
Court documents said that a handgun was found in Buchanan's apartment; lab testing confirmed the gun was used to kill Toineeta.
Buchanan pleaded guilty to second degree murder on May 31, 2024. He remains in federal custody, awaiting transfer to the Federal Bureau of Prisons after being assigned to a federal prison.
In addition to his 30-year sentence, Buchanan was ordered to serve five years of supervised release upon completing his prison term and to pay $888,500 in restitution to the victim's estate.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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