Officer Justified in Killing Tank Thief, D.A. Says

SAN DIEGO — The district attorney announced Tuesday that San Diego Police Officer John Piner was justified in using deadly force to stop a man who stole a tank May 17 from the National Guard Armory and led police on a bizarre chase.

Shawn Timothy Nelson crushed 20 vehicles and knocked down numerous light standards while driving the tank through a residential neighborhood and then south on California 163.

When Nelson tried to maneuver the tank over the median barrier to the northbound lanes, the vehicle became stuck and several police officers scrambled to the top and ordered Nelson to get out. When he refused, he was shot to death by Piner, 33, a six-year veteran of the police force.

Dist. Atty. Paul Pfingst said the shooting was justified because the tank could have injured or killed people if Nelson had succeeded in getting it into the northbound lanes. Tests showed that Nelson, 35, an unemployed plumber and former Army tank operator, had a blood-alcohol level twice the legal limit for driving.