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Asuka{eve} · 06-04-2004, 05:39 PM

Linky:

http://www.kusa.com/acm_news.aspx?OS...7-c589c01ca7bf

Quote:

GRAND COUNTY - An armed man, driving a piece of heavy equipment, destroyed several buildings in the town of Granby Friday afternoon. Witnesses said he was using the re-tooled Caterpillar bulldozer like an armored vehicle, crashing into buildings.

Eye-witness Scott Schaffer was just a half block from the armored bulldozer when he talked to 9NEWS. 9NEWS at 4 p.m. June 4, 2004.

Eye-witness Judy Craig talks to 9NEWS from Granby. 9NEWS at 4 p.m. June 4, 2004.

The rampage started around 2:00 p.m. About three hours later, the armored vehicle finally came to a stop halfway inside a building. Police and sharpshooters had it surrounded.

Gary Redfield of radio KRKY said it was not clear if the man inside was alive.

County Emergency Manager Jim Holahan identified the man driving the Caterpillar as Marvin Heemyer. Another source told 9NEWS that Heemyer has had a property dispute with the city for the past three years.

Holahan said that the Jefferson County bomb squad was also on scene. A Granby radio station was reporting that there were concerns that the vehicle might be booby-trapped.

Lurline Curran, Grand County manager, said the Caterpillar moved methodically from west to east, demolishing, or trying to demolish certain structures. Holahan said the driver was also firing from the vehicle with a 50-calibre weapon. There were no reports of injuries.

Scott Schaffer spoke by cell phone to 9NEWS when the armored vehicle was just a block away.

"He drove through a cement plant, wiped out town hall, took out the newspaper office," said Schaffer. Schaffer said that the town hall building didn't completely collapse, but the other two buildings did.

The Caterpillar also hit the Liberty bank and the Xcel Energy building.

William Hertel, owner of High Altitude Audio, on Main Street saw the drama unfold from the roof of his building. "When he came this way, I really panicked," said Hertel. "I've never seen anything quite like this."

Curran said police moved in a big scraper out of the landfill trying to block the bulldozer's way. She said that didn't stop its advance.

Video from Sky 9 showed collapsed buildings that looked like they'd been hit by a tornado.

Tom Hale, Granby Town Manager, said Heemyer appeared to have targeted certain properties.

Police evacuated residents in the area as the rampage began. A detour was set up around town.

Granby is a town of 1,500, north of Winter Park, near Rocky Mountain National Park.

Did you guys hear about this? This guy must have been really angry. Gives a new meaning to postal too. This guy went through EVERYTHING. I also heard that he had .50 cal weapon. Im waiting for politicians using this to ban guns. What do you guys think the ramifications of this is going to be?