Police have arrested a suspect with alleged ties to far-left groups in connection with last week’s firebombing of a Tesla Collision Center in Las Vegas, an attack that destroyed three vehicles, damaged two others, and left the word “RESIST” scrawled across the building.
Koren said surveillance footage captured Kim arriving at the facility in a black Hyundai Elantra. Dressed in black clothing, wearing gloves and a face covering, the suspect allegedly shot out security cameras, fired into parked Tesla vehicles, and used Molotov cocktails to ignite three of them. One unlit firebomb was found inside another car. Investigators say he spray-painted the word “RESIST” on the Tesla center’s front doors before fleeing.
Search warrants executed on two vehicles linked to Kim and his apartment turned up multiple firearms—including rifles, a shotgun, and a handgun—as well as ammunition of various calibers, gun parts, and clothing consistent with that worn by the suspect in the video. Electronic devices were seized and are currently being analyzed by the FBI, Koren said, adding that DNA evidence collected at the scene matched Kim.
Koren said the LVMPD worked in coordination with federal partners, including the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF). FBI Special Agent in Charge Spencer Evans confirmed that a federal arrest warrant had been issued and that Kim would soon face federal charges in addition to state ones. Spencer issued a cautionary message for individuals who may be contemplating similar attacks.
“There’s nothing courageous or noble about firebombing private property and terrorizing your local community,” he said. “The self-righteous mob that’s cheering you on today to commit acts of violence on their behalf will leave you high and dry and forget about you tomorrow. And at the end of the day, you, and you alone, will be held responsible and face the prospect of a lengthy prison sentence.”
While officials stressed that there is no ongoing threat to the public, they are investigating whether Kim’s actions are linked to a string of recent attacks on Tesla facilities nationwide. Sheriff Kevin McMahill said security has been increased at Tesla-related locations.
“There’s going to be zero tolerance in our community for acts of violence,” McMahill said.
Koren said Kim’s online activity shows loose but self-proclaimed affiliations with far-left organizations, including Communist Party USA-affiliated groups, a social media group called Revolutionary Communists International, Palestinian solidarity movements, and various other groups.
“That is part of our investigations to dig further into it and to be able to determine additional motive and other potential concerns,” Koren said.
In recent weeks, Tesla facilities in several states have been targeted by vandalism and arson. The FBI, in conjunction with the ATF, has launched a national task force to investigate these incidents.
“Tesla just makes electric cars and has done nothing to deserve these evil attacks,” Musk wrote on social media.
“I’m going to stop them,” Trump said during a March 11 press event. “We [will] catch anybody doing this because they’re harming a great American company.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi said her office is already pursuing multiple cases involving Tesla-related violence and vowed to uncover who may be funding or coordinating such attacks.
“We have people we’re locking up on that,” Bondi said during a March 14 interview on Fox News. “They’re looking at up to 20 years in prison.”
Critics—including some Democratic lawmakers—have accused DOGE and Musk of slashing essential services and decimating the federal workforce. Republicans maintain that the department’s work is critical to cutting government waste, fraud, and debt.
