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By Jenna Sundel and Gabe Whisnant
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The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department is investigating a suspected arson attack after multiple vehicles were set on fire at a Tesla service center.
Why It Matters
The incident comes as Tesla CEO Elon Musk faces criticism for his advisory role in President Donald Trump's administration. Musk leads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a new agency created by Trump.
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Critics of DOGE's initiatives, which include laying off federal workers and freezing foreign aid, have organized an effort to boycott Tesla.
In a Truth Social post on March 11, Trump wrote that "the Radical Left Lunatics, as they often do, are trying to illegally and collusively boycott Tesla."
It is not illegal to boycott companies. A 1982 Supreme Court decision found that the right to protest businesses is protected under the First Amendment.
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What To Know
According to authorities, the incident occurred around 2:45 a.m. local time on Tuesday at the Tesla Collision Center on West Badura Avenue in Las Vegas.
Officials received multiple calls, including one who said they heard gunshots, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Assistant Sheriff Dori Koren said at a press conference.
"Communications received information that an individual had set several vehicles on fire in the parking lot and caused damage to the property," the department said in an email.
Police found several vehicles on fire, and the word "Resist" was spray painted on the front doors of the business. The Clark County Fire Department extinguished the fires.
Koren said the suspect is believed to have used Molotov cocktails and a firearm to conduct the attack. Five vehicles were left damaged.
Koren said the suspect fired at least three rounds into different vehicles.
The incident was a "targeted attack," according to Koren. He said officials believe it is an isolated incident without further threat to the public. The identity of the suspect and the motivation behind the attack are still unknown.
Musk reposted videos of the vehicles on fire and called the incident "terrorism" on X, formerly Twitter.
There have been reports of vandalism to Tesla vehicles and dealerships in multiple states. The FBI announced on Tuesday that it is also investigating an incident in Kansas City in which multiple Cybertrucks were damaged at a Tesla dealership.
In January, a 40-year-old woman allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail at a Cybertruck parked at a dealership in Colorado, NBC News reported. The woman allegedly returned to the dealership four more times and caused further damage before she was arrested.
A dozen Tesla charging stations were set on fire near Boston earlier this month. A man allegedly spray-painted three vehicles at a Tesla dealership in nearby Dedham, Massachusetts.
"Damaging the property of others, aka vandalism, is not free speech!" Musk said on X in response to a video appearing to show a man vandalizing Tesla vehicles in Brookline, Massachusetts.
No injuries have been reported in any of the incidents so far.
Spencer Evans, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Las Vegas field office, said the recent attacks targeting Tesla are "unacceptable" at Tuesday's press conference.
What People Are Saying
Elon Musk, reacting to the fire at the Las Vegas Tesla facility, on X: "This level of violence is insane and deeply wrong. Tesla just makes electric cars and has done nothing to deserve these evil attacks."
Spencer Evans, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Las Vegas field office, at a press conference: "To those who might think that something like this is justifiable, or potentially even admirable, we want to let you know it's a federal crime. We will come after you. We will find you and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law."
What Happens Next
The incident is still under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department at 702-828-7777.
Update 3/18/25, 2:46 p.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
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