A Las Vegas man has been charged with igniting a fire that damaged multiple Tesla vehicles using Molotov cocktails in a shocking incident recorded on surveillance cameras. Paul Hyon Kim, 36, was apprehended by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department after three Tesla cars caught fire at a local Collision Center, an event that authorities have described as possessing "some of the hallmarks of terrorism."
On March 18, around 2:45 a.m., Kim allegedly executed the attack, which resulted in significant damage and the destruction of five Tesla vehicles. The surveillance footage shows him dressed in black, setting the cars ablaze. Additionally, the words "RESIST" were spray-painted in red on the facility’s doors, and gunshots were fired at other Teslas in the lot.
Assistant Sheriff Dori Koren stated, "This was a targeted attack against a Tesla facility," while emphasizing that they believe the incident to be isolated. Kim now faces 15 charges, including property destruction, suspected arson, and possession of an incendiary device.
Both local police and the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force are investigating the incident, which forms part of a disturbing trend. Since the end of January 2025, there have been at least ten reported attacks against Tesla dealerships across the United States, encompassing acts of arson, vandalism, and shootings. Federal agencies are viewing these events as potential acts of domestic terrorism, coinciding with growing public discontent regarding Elon Musk’s influence tied to political issues.
Kim is scheduled to appear in court for the first time on Thursday. The escalation of attacks on Tesla dealerships has prompted officials to take these incidents seriously, as they continue to unravel what seems to be a coordinated set of attacks against the company.