30 years later: A look back at the 1995 San Diego tank rampage
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — It's been 30 years since a 57-ton tank from a local National Guard armory was destructively steered through the streets of San Diego.
As reported by The San Diego Union-Tribune, on May 17, 1995, a man from Clairemont set out on a fateful journey that would end in his death. This unprecedented incident, which left a trail of destruction, has remained etched in the city's memory for three decades.
His name was Shawn Nelson, and he reportedly worked as a plumber. Reports described the man's behavior prior to the incident as increasingly strange.
The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that Nelson enlisted in the Army after high school, later serving as tank battalion in West Germany. That was until 'multifaceted disciplinary problems' led to an honorable discharge in 1980.
Nelson's ex-wife told The San Diego Union-Tribune that he began acting erratically around the time his mother died in 1988. His father's death followed just four years later. During that period, she claimed he started to abuse amphetamines and alcohol, which led her to file for divorce in 1990.
Nelson reportedly had a severe motorcycle accident that same year, leaving him with back and neck trauma. A series of unfortunate events continued for Nelson from there, with reports noting home foreclosure proceedings were filed in 1995.
Then, the rampage day occurred.
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On that fateful day in 1995, Nelson reportedly entered the National Guard armory on Mesa College Drive after finding the gates unsecured. It was then that Nelson entered and started up an M-60 battle tank.
The discharged servicemember then drove the massive vehicle through residential neighborhoods in Kearny Mesa, smashing cars and tearing down telephone poles. The path of destruction was caught on video by many, with the CBS evening news of 1995 detailing the berserk event on television.
Local authorities trailed Nelson, with some eventually climbing atop the tank and pulling the hatch to demand he stop, as reported by The San Diego Union-Tribune. When he refused to surrender and tried to maneuver the tank, Nelson was shot once by police.
Despite an immediate response from paramedics, the gunshot wound proved to be fatal and Nelson was pronounced dead at the scene.
In the wake of the incident, then-Governor Pete Wilson ordered the California National Guard to implement a fail-safe system to prevent future tank thefts. An investigation revealed significant security lapses at armories across the state, leading to reforms and the relocation of tanks to more secure facilities, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Three decades later, the 1995 San Diego tank rampage remains a unique chapter in the city's history. While the motives behind Nelson's actions remain unclear, the event prompted significant changes in military equipment security and continues to be a topic of discussion and reflection.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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