A 19-year-old University of Massachusetts Boston student, Owen McIntire, has been arrested and charged in connection with a firebombing incident at a Tesla dealership during Spring Break, the U.S. Department of Justice confirmed on Friday, April 18.
McIntire was taken into custody by FBI agents on the UMass Boston campus and made his initial court appearance later that day.
According to a federal criminal complaint, McIntire faces charges of unlawful possession of an unregistered destructive device and malicious damage by fire to property used in interstate commerce. The alleged incident took place on March 17 at a Tesla dealership in Kansas City, McIntire’s hometown, during his Spring Break.
Investigators report that McIntire parked a block away from the dealership, approached the location on foot, and ignited a Molotov cocktail made from an apple cider vinegar bottle and a rag before fleeing. The fire caused damage to two Cybertrucks and two Tesla charging stations, with total damages estimated at over $200,000.
Authorities were alerted when an officer noticed smoke coming from one of the Cybertrucks. Surveillance footage and witness testimonies led to McIntire’s identification, with the suspect seen wearing distinctive dark, flowing clothing and a wide-brimmed hat. The hat, later discarded nearby, was recovered and used for DNA testing.
Additional evidence placing McIntire at the scene included photos of him with luggage at the Kansas City International Airport around the time of the incident.
This marks the second arrest in a series of arson attacks targeting Tesla dealerships across the country.
