Killdozer
Killdozer is the name commonly used for the 4 June 2004 bulldozer rampage in Granby, Colorado, carried out by Marvin Heemeyer in a heavily armored Komatsu D355A bulldozer.
Killdozer is the name commonly used for the 4 June 2004 bulldozer rampage in Granby, Colorado, carried out by Marvin Heemeyer in a heavily armored Komatsu D355A bulldozer. He destroyed multiple buildings in town, caused millions of dollars in damage, and died by suicide after the vehicle became stuck. No other people were killed or injured.
Background
Marvin Heemeyer was a Granby resident involved in disputes with local officials and businesses before the attack. Reporting describes the rampage as a deliberate, planned act using a heavily modified bulldozer.
The rampage
On 4 June 2004, Heemeyer drove the armored bulldozer through Granby, damaging buildings across the town. Accounts identify 13 destroyed or heavily damaged structures, including the town hall, a bank, a newspaper office, and a former mayor’s home.
Aftermath
The bulldozer became stuck and the incident ended after roughly two hours. Heemeyer died by suicide, and no one else was killed or injured.
Legacy
The incident received broad news coverage and later documentaries and retrospective reporting. It is commonly cited as one of the most unusual acts of property destruction in recent U.S. crime history.
Key facts
- The incident involved a modified bulldozer that Heemeyer had armored with steel and concrete.
- Heemeyer damaged 13 buildings, including the town hall and other commercial and municipal structures.
- The rampage ended when the bulldozer became stuck near a hardware store.
- Heemeyer died by suicide inside the vehicle after it was immobilized.
- No other people were killed or injured, in part because residents were evacuated.
The incident is occasionally covered in Canadian media and true-crime programming as an unusual example of a U.S. rampage involving property destruction rather than mass casualties.[1]
Frequently asked questions
Who carried out the Killdozer incident?
When did Killdozer happen?
How many buildings were damaged?
Were any bystanders killed?
How did the incident end?
Why is it called Killdozer?
References
- KUNC — https://www.kunc.org/news/2020-02-20/granbys-bulldozer-rampage-captured-the-worlds-attention-now-its-a-documentarySupports: Identifies the event as the 2004 Granby bulldozer rampage, describes Heemeyer using an armored bulldozer, and notes the self-inflicted gunshot wound.
- Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KilldozerSupports: Provides the date, sequence of destruction, no other casualties, and the vehicle ending stuck in a hardware store.
- Denver7 — https://www.denver7.com/news/local-news/killdozer-20-years-later-how-and-why-a-man-went-on-a-rampage-through-granby-in-an-armored-bulldozerSupports: States the incident date, the armored bulldozer, 13 buildings destroyed, and damage exceeding $5 million.
- Sky-Hi News — https://www.skyhinews.com/news/photos-killdozer-rampage-marks-22nd-anniversary/Supports: Gives the rampage date, vehicle model, ending when it became stuck, Heemeyer’s suicide, and damage near $7 million.
- HowStuffWorks — https://history.howstuffworks.com/american-history/killdozer.htmSupports: Summarizes the rampage, the number of buildings demolished, and that no one was killed except Heemeyer.