what happened to marvin heemeyer bulldozer

The Story of Marvin Heemeyer and his Bulldozer

Marvin Heemeyer's name may not be familiar to many people, but his actions in a small Colorado town on June 4th, 2004, made him infamous. Heemeyer, a local businessman, felt that he had been wronged by the town council and the local government. In an act of apparent revenge, he brought his homemade armored bulldozer to the town of Granby, Colorado and proceeded to cause destruction that would leave the town reeling.

The Buildup to the Bulldozer Attack

Marvin Heemeyer had been a well-respected citizen in Granby for many years. However, he began to feel that the local government was working against him when they declined his request to rezone his property. Without the rezoning, he was unable to sell his muffler shop to a neighboring car dealership, and he believed that this was due to the town's collusion with the dealership. Heemeyer took legal action against the town council and lost. This loss seemed to push Heemeyer over the edge, and he began to carry out his plans for revenge. Over the course of nearly a year, he outfitted a bulldozer with a homemade armor plating that could withstand gunfire. He also added cameras and monitors inside the cab, giving him near 360-degree visibility.

The Actual Attack

On June 4th, 2004, Marvin Heemeyer sealed himself inside his bulldozer and began his assault on the town. Over the course of several hours, he rammed his way through the walls of city hall, the library, the fire department, and several businesses. The damage caused by his bulldozer amounted to over $7 million in lost property and damage. The attack continued until the bulldozer became stuck in a basement of one of the buildings. Heemeyer then turned the gun on himself and committed suicide. Miraculously, no one else was seriously hurt or killed during the attack.

The Aftermath

The town of Granby was left reeling by the attack. In the aftermath, people began to try to understand what had driven Marvin Heemeyer to such drastic measures. Some believed that the town council had wronged him, while others felt that he was mentally unstable. Regardless of the reason behind the attack, it will forever be remembered as an extreme act of violence that caused significant damage and destruction. Many have noted similarities between the acts of Marvin Heemeyer and those of domestic terrorists, as well as a reflection of the undercurrents of dissatisfaction that exist within small communities across the United States.

Conclusion

Marvin Heemeyer and his bulldozer attack are not soon to be forgotten. While his actions were devastating, they also serve as a lesson about the power of feelings of disenfranchisement and the need for communities to listen to and support their members. While it may be too late to change the outcome of the attack, it is not too late for cities and towns to find ways to support their citizens and prevent future acts of violence.