Topix Underground

"30 years ago today on May 17, 1995, Army veteran Shawn Nelson managed to steal an M60A3 tank and go on a 6 mile rampage through San Diego, CA.

Nelson was a local celebrity before the incident.

He was known for mowing his lawn in the middle of the night and also dug a 20 foot pit in his backyard looking for gold.

On the evening of May 17, 1995, Nelson drove his truck and parked at the local California Army National Guard armory.

He then started breaking locks on the tanks before hopping inside the 60 ton tank.

For the next 30 minutes, Nelson damaged bridges, fire hydrants, traffic lights, destroyed 40 cars, and left 5100 households with no electricity.

Not a single person was injured.

After becoming stuck, San Diego police climbed on top the tank, opened the hatch and shot and killed Nelson."



I would have hired him to do plumbing. He seems mechanically inclined.