What's The 'Killdozer' Meme? The 'Killdozer' Story and the Man Behind It Explained

Two decades ago, a man caused more than $5 million in damages at Granby, Colorado after he modified a Komatsu D355A Bulldozer, nicknamed 'Killdozer,' and demolished 13 buildings, including the town hall and a former mayor's house.

If this doesn't sound absurd to you, the story gets more twists. Somehow, during the past 20 years since the incident, the man responsible for it, Marvin Heemeyer, has now amassed an online fanbase who considers him a legend of sorts for his "bold" action.

Here's the full story of the 'Killdozer' Rampage.

What Is The Killdozer Rampage?

The Killdozer Rampage is an incident that occurred on June 4th, 2004, in Granby, Colorado, in which American welder and automobile repair shop owner Marvin John Heemeyer drove for two hours and seven minutes a modified armored 85-ton bulldozer, nicknaming it 'Killzoder,' (seen below) knocking down 13 buildings, destroying a large portion of Granby’s business district and causing more than $5 million in damages. Heemeyer also fired shots with his 50-caliber rifle while driving the Killdozer, but fortunately, no one was killed.

The incident ended with Heemeyer taking his own life inside the Killdozer, as swat members began moving in on the stuck makeshift tank.

Why Did Marvin Heemeyer Went On A Rampage Through Granby In The Killdozer?

Heemeyer was upset with his neighbors and Gran's town council after losing a zoning dispute over land near his muffler shop. According to the Denver7 website, Marvin “vowed to get back at the people he felt somehow had wronged him.” On August 9th, 2006, YouTuber eexlebots uploaded footage of the incident titled "Killdozer Helicopter News Footage" (shown below).

How Did The Killdozer Rampage Become A Meme?

Granby slowly rebuilt itself in the years after the Killdozer incident. Meanwhile, on the deepest corners of the internet, Heemeyer's story and his Killdozer vehicle became a symbol (and ironic meme) of someone who stood up for his beliefs, as Patrick Brower, the author of a book on Heemeyer and his tank, revealed.

On March 16th, 2018, YouTuber Qxir uploaded a video titled "KILLDOZER: How a Man Made His Own Tank" (shown below, left). On March 13th, 2023, @drogendorandommeme3263 posted a parody video recreating the events of the Killdozer rampage using a Lego commercial (shown below, right).

For the full history of Killdozer, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.