Скачать или смотреть Full SDPD Helicopter Footage of Shawn Nelson's Tank Rampage (5/17/1995)

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On May 17, 6:30 p.m., Shawn Timothy Nelson used a Chevrolet van to breach the Guard armory's gates in San Diego. He then proceeded to commandeer an M60-A3 tank after breaking the locks on three other tanks within the facility. At 6:45 p.m., Nelson crashed through the armory's gate and drove the tank through residential neighborhoods in San Diego. The San Diego Police Department learned of the incident at 6:46 p.m. when a detective reported that he was following Nelson.

Over a distance of six miles, he intentionally caused chaos and destruction, damaging traffic lights, a bus bench, 40 cars, fire hydrants, and utility poles, disrupting electricity to roughly 5100 households. More SDPD units headed to intercept the tank, and California State Route 163 (SR-163) was closed. After driving onto SR-163, Nelson crashed the tank into a three-foot traffic barrier near Sharp Memorial Hospital, dislodging one of the tank's tracks. SDPD officers boarded the tank and were forced to shoot Nelson when he refused to surrender and attempted to knock them off by spinning the tank. Nelson did not injure anyone during his 25-minute rampage.

The California Guard was found to be negligent and responsible for the incident. The state paid out a total of $149,201 (equivalent to $289,855 in 2023 according to sources) to cover damages. This incident triggered widespread conjecture regarding Nelson's motives, prompting various hypotheses and interpretations, including portraying the incident as a warning about ex-servicemen bringing the war home. Following Nelson's death, security enhancements were implemented at armories to avert similar breaches.

By November 1996, the Guard had improved security at its armories, including relocating all tanks to Fort Irwin in San Bernardino County and Camp Roberts in San Miguel, CA.

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