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I take the wekend off and look what happens
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation declared the entire town of Granby a crime scene Saturday as authorities released more information about the events that unfolded a day earlier when an armored bulldozer began knocking down buildings in town. The Grand County Sheriff's office said that the D9 Caterpillar bulldozer was totally encased in armored plating with only small peepholes. | D9 Cat, the Official Bulldozer of Rantburg. Accept no subsitutes! |
They said the driver, who was identified Friday as Marvin Heemeyer, 52, had installed TV cameras connected to three monitors so he could see where he was going. Investigators believe he spent several months planning and building the quarter- to half-inch concrete box that no police bullet could penetrate. "How he built this was amazing," said Grand County Commissioner James Newberry. "This was a very intelligent man. Once you saw the way his workshop was set up it's possible." The bulldozer destroyed a concrete batch building, ran over a police vehicle and pushed over a wall where two state troopers were hiding, the Grand County Sheriff's office said. The troopers escaped. The bulldozer then proceeded eastward on Highway 40 to the Mountain Parks concrete building, where it caused heavy damage. The sheriff's department said the bulldozer next destroyed a building housing the town hall and library, then rammed the Liberty Savings Bank. It also destroyed the Sky-Hi News building, the Xcel Energy building, and a business owned by Thompson Excavating as well as the home, located on another street, of the owner of Thompson Excavating. | Seems like Marvin had "issues". |
Numerous rounds were fired from a .50 browning semi-automatic rifle from inside the dozer at some propane tanks and electrical transformers at another business, the sheriff's office said. | Armored dozer with a .50, Marvin had serious issues. |
Around 5 p.m., which was about three hours after the rampage began, the bulldozer got stuck inside the Gamble's department store. Soon afterwards, a shot was heard coming from inside the dozer. However it wasn't until 2 a.m. that deputies, police and SWAT officers using explosives, were able to penetrate the concrete and steel plates that were welded onto the bulldozer. The sheriff's office said the body of a man, believed to be Marvin Heemeyer, was found inside, dead from an apparent self-inflicted gun shot wound. Investigators said they also found four weapons, a .50 caliber rifle, two military style assault rifles and a handgun. Crews had to use a crane to pry open the reinforced box and remove Heemeyer's body, which was recovered around 10:30 a.m. At a media briefing later in the day, authorities said they believed Heemeyer committed suicide about 20 seconds after he lost control of the hydraulics on the home-made tank. The Colorado State Patrol said it is looking for accomplices. They said the attack was well planned out and they don't think that Heemeyer could have done it all on his own. Sure he could, all it took was time and a lot of rage. Glad no one but Marvin lost his life. Expect call for dozer gun control in 5..4.. |
More indepth coverage here.
Posted by: Steve 2004-06-07 |
