Law enforcement officials are currently searching for a suspect who set multiple Teslas on fire and fired multiple gunshots into Tesla vehicles at a Tesla Collision Center In Las Vegas on Tuesday.
During a Tuesday press conference, a las enforcement official confirmed that a “suspect approached the business wearing all black clothing” and “used what appear to be Molotov cocktails and a firearm to conduct his attack.”
The law enforcement official noted that at least five Tesla vehicles were damaged by the suspect, with two of the vehicles “engulfed in flames” when police officials were notified of the incident at roughly 2:45 a.m. Police officials also said the suspect is believed to have fired at least three rounds into Tesla vehicles.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department spokesperson said that the word “resist” was also painted on the door of the Tesla Collision Center when police officials arrived at the scene.
During Tuesday’s press conference, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Assistant Sheriff Dori Koren described Tuesday’s incident as a “targeted attack against a Tesla facility, according to The Las Vegas Review-Journal.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent in Charge Spencer Evans confirmed that Tuesday’s incident at the Tesla Collision Center remains under investigation by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force.
While Evans explained that it was too early to label Tuesday’s incident as an act of terrorism, the special agent in charge acknowledged that the incident had “some of the hallmarks” as well as a “potential political agenda.”
During Tuesday’s press briefing, Evans said, “Violent acts like this are unacceptable, regardless of where they occur.” The FBI special agent in charge warned people thinking of carrying out similar attacks to “seriously reconsider” their actions.
“It’s a federal crime,” Evans added. “We will come after you. We will find you and prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law.”
According to The Las Vegas Review-Journal, while Evans confirmed that he was aware of other incidents against Tesla facilities and Tesla vehicles in different states, he could not yet confirm whether the incidents were connected.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Tesla CEO Elon Musk shared the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s video of Tuesday’s attack alongside the caption, “This level of violence is insane and deeply wrong.” In the video, multiple Tesla vehicles can be seen engulfed in flames.
Musk added, “Tesla just makes electric cars and has done nothing to deserve these evil attacks.”
ABC 13 reporter Joe Moeller also shared videos and pictures from the scene of Tuesday’s “targeted attack.” The pictures and videos show multiple vehicles on fire and the word “resist” written in red letters across the entrance to the Tesla facility.
