A 36-year-old suspect, believed to be of South Korean descent, has been arrested in connection with a series of arson attacks targeting Tesla vehicles across the United States.
According to Fox News on Friday, police apprehended a man identified as Kim at a Tesla Collision Center in Las Vegas. He is accused of setting fire to at least five vehicles.
Kim faces multiple charges, including property destruction, arson, and possession of incendiary devices. The FBI has also confirmed that federal charges will be filed against him.
According to police reports, Kim arrived at the repair center on Tuesday in a car before proceeding with the attack. Wearing gloves, dark clothing, and a concealed face, he allegedly used a firearm to disable surveillance cameras.
Authorities believe Kim then used Molotov cocktails to set the vehicles ablaze and spray-painted the word “Resist” on the center’s front entrance.
Law enforcement officials confirmed that Kim’s DNA matched samples collected from the crime scene. A search of two vehicles and an apartment linked to him uncovered multiple firearms, firearm components, and ammunition.
Investigators are also examining Kim’s social media activity for potential ties to communist organizations or Palestine-related groups, as well as the possibility of accomplices.
This attack is part of a broader trend of arson incidents targeting Tesla stores, charging stations, and repair centers nationwide. The acts are believed to be in retaliation against Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who currently leads the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Musk has been spearheading major spending cuts and workforce reductions in federal agencies.
