The case of a veteran stealing an M60A3 tank shocked the US

The case of a veteran stealing an M60A3 tank shocked the US.

Tuesday, October 8, 2024 21:05 PM (GMT+7)

In 1995, Shawn Nelson, a former US soldier, stole an M60A3 tank from the National Guard warehouse, causing chaos on the streets of San Diego, shocking the United States.

On May 17, 1995, Shawn Nelson drove through an open gate at the Army National Guard armory on Mesa College Drive. The veteran climbed into an M60A3 Patton tank and started it up with ease, thanks to his knowledge from his military service, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

The base guards tried to stop Shawn Nelson, but the 63-ton tank continued forward, through the base gates and into the street.

Fortunately, the entire weapon system on the tank, including the 105mm gun, 12.7mm anti-aircraft gun and 7.62mm machine gun, were not loaded with ammunition, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Still, the half-hour Shawn Nelson drove an M60A3 tank caused major damage to the city's infrastructure and property, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

The M60A3 tank crushed anything in its path, from signs, fire hydrants, traffic lights to parked cars. According to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Shawn Nelson even tried to knock down a pedestrian bridge by repeatedly crashing into it, but the structure survived, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Witness Kelly Bird said he saw at least 25 cars crushed by the M60A3 tank. "He's crazy," Bird said. According to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Then-San Diego police chief Jerry Sander said he had never seen anything like Shawn Nelson's rampage with an M60A3 tank, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

“Nobody could have predicted that someone would use a tank to cause such destruction,” Sanders said. All police could do was follow the tank in patrol cars and set up roadblocks along routes where Shawn Nelson might have traveled, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

After failing to destroy the pedestrian bridge, Shawn Nelson moved onto the freeway, where a group of police officers were blocking the road, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

As Shawn Nelson attempted to drive the tank across the median, Officer Paul Paxton, a reservist with tank experience, climbed aboard, opened the hatch on the turret and shouted inside, asking Shawn Nelson to come out, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Shawn Nelson looked up but did not respond and continued to turn back to the controls of the tank. At that moment, Officer Rick Piner, Paxton's colleague, fired a round that hit Shawn Nelson in the shoulder, causing the tank to stop, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Medical personnel treated Shawn Nelson (pictured) after he was pulled from the tank, but Nelson died from his injuries. No one else was killed or seriously injured in the incident, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

The California National Guard was later charged with negligence for allowing Shawn Nelson to steal the tank. The state was also ordered to pay property damage compensation to affected organizations and individuals, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

News and video of the incident quickly spread around the world . It was considered by some to be a symbolic event, representing social issues facing America at the time, including the plight of the middle class and the immense pressures facing American men, including Shawn Nelson, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

But many others believe that drug addiction drove Shawn Nelson to commit this act. "Meth makes people crazy, aggressive and violent," said psychiatrist Mark Kalish, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

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