Suspect Detained Following Tesla Arson Attack
A man accused of setting fire to Tesla vehicles in Las Vegas and leaving behind graffiti reading “resist” has been arrested, authorities announced on Thursday. The suspect, identified as 36-year-old Paul Hyon Kim, faces multiple charges in both state and federal courts in Nevada. Kim was taken into custody on Wednesday and is currently being held under federal detention.
Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill stated that Kim faces charges of arson, possession of an explosive device, and firing a weapon into a vehicle in state court. In addition, federal charges include unlawful possession of an unregistered firearm and arson, according to a criminal complaint filed on Thursday.
Paul Hyon Kim made a brief appearance in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas, dressed in black jeans, a T-shirt, and tennis shoes. When questioned, he confirmed that he had completed 12 years of schooling. A detention hearing is scheduled for Friday. The federal public defender’s office in Las Vegas, which has been assigned to represent Kim, declined to comment on the case.
Security Footage and Investigation into Tesla-Related Vandalism
At a police press conference, security footage showed the suspect dressed in black and covering his face while spray-painting the word “resist” on the glass doors of a Tesla service center. According to McMahill, Paul Hyon Kimallegedly threw Molotov cocktails at the scene and fired multiple rounds into several Tesla vehicles. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
Authorities are now investigating whether this attack is linked to other recent incidents of vandalism targeting Tesla properties across the country. Since President Donald Trump appointed Tesla CEO Elon Musk to oversee the newly established Department of Government Efficiency, there has been a reported increase in attacks against Tesla-branded properties in the U.S.
Prominent incidents have been recorded in the Pacific Northwest, where a man in Oregon allegedly threw Molotov cocktails at a Tesla store in Salem before returning on another occasion to shoot out windows. Similarly, a Tesla showroom in Tigard, a suburb of Portland, sustained significant damage after being struck by over a dozen bullets. Other incidents have occurred in Colorado and South Carolina, involving Molotov cocktails and acts of arson targeting Tesla vehicles and infrastructure.
Potential Terrorism Links Under Investigation
Authorities are now examining whether the Las Vegas attack and other Tesla-related vandalism cases have a common motive. FBI Special Agent Spencer Evans, speaking at the press conference, refrained from making direct comparisons to previous attacks but acknowledged that the Las Vegas case exhibited characteristics associated with terrorism.
“Was this terrorism? Was it something else? It certainly has some of the hallmarks that we might think—graffiti with a possible message, a potential political agenda, and an act of violence,” Evans stated. “None of those factors are lost on us.”
The case remains under investigation, with law enforcement agencies working to determine whether Paul Hyon Kim acted alone or as part of a larger coordinated effort. As Tesla continues to be a high-profile brand with strong political associations, authorities are taking these incidents seriously and closely monitoring similar attacks nationwide.
