Kearney Police say a man has been cited after investigators determined he discharged a firearm within the city limits during an incident that prompted a large law enforcement response last week. According to authorities, officers were near the 1000 block of 4th Avenue shortly after 11:30 p.m. on October 23 when they heard gunshots and learned a disturbance had occurred at a nearby residence. Officers reported seeing a man enter an attached garage before hearing another muffled gunshot from inside the structure.
Police attempted to contact the suspect but were unsuccessful. The Kearney Police Department and Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Services Unit, hostage negotiators, and drone teams were called in. Officers eventually entered the residence to check on the individual’s welfare, but the suspect was not found. Investigators later identified the man as Joshua Tappan and obtained a search warrant to collect evidence. Authorities determined the incident was isolated and said there was no ongoing threat to the public.
Police say Joshua Tappan voluntarily reported to the Buffalo County Law Enforcement Center on October 28 and was cited and released for discharging a firearm within the city limits, a violation of a Kearney city ordinance. The investigation remains ongoing, and anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Kearney Police Department.
