A 19-year-old student from the University of Massachusetts Boston, Owen McIntire, has been apprehended by federal officials for allegedly firebombing a Tesla dealership in Missouri. McIntire, who was spending his spring break in his hometown of Parkville, Missouri, is accused of driving to a nearby Tesla dealership in Kansas City on March 17. He is alleged to have thrown two Molotov cocktails at a Cybertruck, sparking a fire that caused extensive damage and spread to a second Cybertruck.
The Justice Department reported that the alleged arson attack resulted in thousands of dollars in damages. McIntire is accused of creating two homemade incendiary devices and using them to destroy two Cybertrucks, priced at $105,485 and $107,495 respectively. Only one of the Molotov cocktails exploded, with investigators recovering the second device intact. The unexploded device appeared to be housed in an apple cider vinegar bottle, as per photos from the scene.
The fire also damaged two Tesla charging stations, each valued at $550. McIntire now faces charges of unlawful possession of an unregistered destructive device and malicious damage by fire of property used in interstate commerce, as stated by the Department of Justice (DOJ).
US Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a stern warning in the DOJ statement, stating that anyone attempting to firebomb a Tesla property would face arrest, prosecution, and potentially decades in prison. The FBI, which led the arrest, highlighted the crackdown on extremists targeting the electric car company owned by Elon Musk, who also heads the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
FBI Director Kash Patel emphasized the bureau’s commitment to apprehending those responsible for such destructive acts. This arrest marks the second this week of a suspect charged with targeting Tesla.
On a social media account believed to belong to McIntire, he posted a lengthy rant about the state of the world and his mental health in March 2023. The post detailed his panic attacks, frustration with current events, and his struggle with school bills and labor laws.
McIntire’s parents, both professional musicians, have not yet responded to requests for comment. The University of Massachusetts Boston has also not issued a statement regarding the incident.