Man accused of setting fire to Tesla vehicles in Las Vegas arrested, police say

LAS VEGAS (AP) -- A 36-year-old man named Paul Hyon Kim has been arrested for setting fire to Tesla vehicles in Las Vegas and leaving behind the word "resist" at the scene. Authorities announced the arrest on Thursday, detailing that Kim is facing charges both in state and federal court stemming from the attack on March 18. He is currently in federal custody, awaiting proceedings in U.S. District Court later in the day.

Kim’s state charges include arson, possession of an explosive device, and firing a weapon into a vehicle. Alongside these, he faces federal charges for unlawful possession of an unregistered firearm and arson. During a press conference, Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill provided details about the incident, which involved Kim throwing Molotov cocktails and shooting at multiple Tesla vehicles.

Security footage revealed Kim dressed in black and covering his face while vandalizing the Tesla service center. The authorities are actively investigating a motive for his actions, exploring any potential connections to other vandalism incidents targeting Tesla properties nationwide. There has been a notable rise in attacks against Tesla since the administration of former President Donald Trump, particularly in left-leaning regions.

Recent similar attacks include a Colorado woman charged for throwing Molotov cocktails at Tesla dealerships and a South Carolina man arrested for setting fire to charging stations. The incidents particularly concentrated in cities with strong anti-Trump and anti-Musk sentiments, like Portland and Seattle, have kept law enforcement on high alert.

Federal Bureau of Investigation special agent Spencer Evans noted the Las Vegas case shares characteristics that could be considered terrorism, though he declined to label it as such outright. He mentioned the significance of the political messaging involved and acknowledged that the act of violence has raised concerns among investigators about its potential motivations.