• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia

Trendingnow

1

Iran strikes 85 U.S. military sites in the Gulf, sparking a global selloff in stocks and a spike in the price of oil

2

Ex-PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi worked from midnight until 5 a.m. as a receptionist to pay for her Yale degree—and she says ‘respect went up’ because of it

3

Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary says if he were 25 today, he'd chase these two booming opportunities in the world of AI

1

Iran strikes 85 U.S. military sites in the Gulf, sparking a global selloff in stocks and a spike in the price of oil

2

Ex-PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi worked from midnight until 5 a.m. as a receptionist to pay for her Yale degree—and she says ‘respect went up’ because of it

3

Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary says if he were 25 today, he'd chase these two booming opportunities in the world of AI
PoliticsTesla

Police arrested a 36-year-old Nevada man for allegedly firebombing five Teslas with molotov cocktails

Amanda Gerut
By
Amanda Gerut
Amanda Gerut
News Editor, West Coast
Down Arrow Button Icon
Amanda Gerut
By
Amanda Gerut
Amanda Gerut
News Editor, West Coast
Down Arrow Button Icon
March 28, 2025, 2:09 AM ET
Police display photos of Paul Hyon Kim on a television screen during a press conference on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at Metro Police Headquarters. Kim, 36, was arrested in connection with the fires set at a Tesla service center the week prior.
Police display photos of Paul Hyon Kim on a television screen during a press conference on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at Metro Police Headquarters. Kim, 36, was arrested in connection with the fires set at a Tesla service center the week prior. Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal/Tribune News Service via Getty Images
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.
  • Las Vegas Metropolitan Police announced they had arrested a 36-year-old Nevada man and charged him with 15 felony counts including arson, use of explosives, and discharging a firearm after he allegedly vandalized a Tesla collision center by shooting out cameras and setting five cars on fire. The arrest comes a week after Attorney General Pamela Bondi announced charges against three others for allegedly using molotov cocktails on Teslas in Colorado, Oregon, and South Carolina.

Las Vegas Sheriff Kevin McMahill on Thursday announced the arrest of Paul Hyon Kim, 36, of Nevada for allegedly shooting a .30 caliber rifle into the back of five Teslas and hurling molotov cocktails into the cars to set them on fire. Tesla is helmed by Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) leader Elon Musk. President Donald Trump has said anti-Musk actions against Tesla would be treated as “domestic terrorism” and floated the idea of sending three other individuals who have been charged with attacks to prison in El Salvador, which might not be legal.

Recommended Video

Kim has been taken into federal custody, according to the Department of Justice, and he faces federal charges for arson and having an unregistered firearm, in addition to 15 felony counts he faces in Nevada. Kim could be sentenced 20 years in prison. 

“The Department of Justice has been clear: anyone who participates in the wave of domestic terrorism targeting Tesla properties will suffer severe legal consequences,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi in a statement. “We will continue to find, arrest, and prosecute these attackers until the lesson is learned.” 

Police said Kim dressed in a black facemask and gloves and allegedly drove his black Hyundai Elantra onto a Tesla collision center lot, parked the car, and shot out two surveillance cameras with his rifle. Then he tagged the word, “Resist” across the glass double doors in pink spray paint, assistant sheriff Dori Koren said during a press conference in Las Vegas on Thursday. 

Afterward, Kim allegedly walked over to where the Teslas were parked and started shooting into the cars before pulling what police say were molotov cocktails out of his backpack to firebomb them. Authorities claim he set five cars on fire and completely burned the insides out of three, destroying them completely.

Koren said police searched two vehicles linked to Kim as well as his apartment and matched DNA taken from the inside of Kim’s cheek with DNA left at the Tesla collision center. Koren said the searches turned up multiple rifles, a shotgun, handgun, gun parts and ammunition that matched the caliber found at the Tesla center. Police said Kim’s gun belt and backpack had traces of pink paint residue. The DOJ said the search also found a handwritten note with what seemed to be an escape plan. 

According to Koren, a Las Vegas swat team arrested Kim in his apartment on Thursday morning after authorities matched his buccal-swab DNA with a sample from the crime scene.  

“As promised, acts of violence and vandalism will not be tolerated, and today law enforcement personnel acted quickly to arrest an individual on charges including arson,” said FBI Director Kash Patel in a statement. “Under Attorney General Bondi’s leadership, we will continue to pursue these investigations with the full force of law and will bring to justice anyone responsible for these attacks.”

Dozens of protests have broken out among Tesla dealerships and properties across the country, in response to vast government cuts engineered by Musk’s DOGE team. In response, Trump has issued statements in support of Musk and DOGE and reportedly bought a Tesla Model S. 

Last week, Bondi announced the arrests of three others charged with using molotov cocktails and setting cars and charging stations on fire, saying all three would face “the full force of the law.”

The DOJ said a woman in Loveland, Colorado was arrested for trying to light Teslas on fire with molotov cocktails, while a South Carolina man spray painted anti-Trump graffiti before lighting a charging station on fire in Charleston. A woman in Oregon was arrested after she allegedly threw eight molotov cocktails at a Tesla dealership in Salem. Authorities said she was armed with an AR-15 rifle. 

Each face up to 20 years in prison, according to the DOJ. 

“The days of committing crimes without consequence have ended,” Bondi said. “Let this be a warning: if you join this wave of domestic terrorism against Tesla properties, the Department of Justice will put you behind bars.”

Subscribe to Fortune Gulf Brief. Every Tuesday, this new newsletter delivers clear-eyed, authoritative intelligence on the deals, decisions, policies, and power shifts shaping one of the world’s most consequential regions, written for the people who need to act on it. Sign up here.
About the Author
Amanda Gerut
By Amanda GerutNews Editor, West Coast

Amanda Gerut is the west coast editor at Fortune, overseeing publicly traded businesses, executive compensation, Securities and Exchange Commission regulations, and investigations.

See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Add Fortune on Google for similar content.

Latest in Politics

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025

Most Popular

Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Finance
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam
By Fortune Editors
October 20, 2025
Fortune Secondary Logo
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • World's Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
  • Lists Calendar
Sections
  • Finance
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Features
  • Leadership
  • Health
  • Commentary
  • Success
  • Retail
  • Mpw
  • Tech
  • Lifestyle
  • CEO Initiative
  • Asia
  • Politics
  • Conferences
  • Europe
  • Newsletters
  • Personal Finance
  • Environment
  • Magazine
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
  • Group Subscriptions
About Us
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • About Us
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map
  • Facebook icon
  • Twitter icon
  • LinkedIn icon
  • Instagram icon
  • Pinterest icon

Latest in Politics

‘Project 2029’ floats free child care—or $1,000 to stay home
Politicschild care costs
‘Project 2029’ floats free child care—or $1,000 to stay home
By Simone Foxman and BloombergJuly 8, 2026
6 hours ago
Mitch McConnell’s Senate seat could sit empty for months—and a fast-approaching deadline is why
PoliticsMitch McConnell
Mitch McConnell’s Senate seat could sit empty for months—and a fast-approaching deadline is why
By Bill Barrow and The Associated PressJuly 8, 2026
8 hours ago
Trump loses bid to delay Carroll’s $5 million trial payout
LawDonald Trump
Trump loses bid to delay Carroll’s $5 million trial payout
By Erik Larson and BloombergJuly 8, 2026
9 hours ago
‘We’ll probably hit them hard again’: Trump warns Iran U.S. is preparing for more strikes following what he called the end of the ceasefire
PoliticsDonald Trump
‘We’ll probably hit them hard again’: Trump warns Iran U.S. is preparing for more strikes following what he called the end of the ceasefire
By The Associated Press, Jon Gambrell and Seung Min KimJuly 8, 2026
11 hours ago
IMF expects modest 3% growth as the Iran war is dragging down the economy while AI is boosting it
EconomyIran
IMF expects modest 3% growth as the Iran war is dragging down the economy while AI is boosting it
By The Associated Press and Paul WisemanJuly 8, 2026
12 hours ago
Presidents aren’t supposed to pick winners, former White House ethics lawyer says. Trump keeps choosing Dell
PoliticsDonald Trump
Presidents aren’t supposed to pick winners, former White House ethics lawyer says. Trump keeps choosing Dell
By Mia OsmonbekovJuly 7, 2026
1 day ago

Most Popular

Iran strikes 85 U.S. military sites in the Gulf, sparking a global selloff in stocks and a spike in the price of oil
Newsletters
Iran strikes 85 U.S. military sites in the Gulf, sparking a global selloff in stocks and a spike in the price of oil
By Jim EdwardsJuly 8, 2026
17 hours ago
Ex-PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi worked from midnight until 5 a.m. as a receptionist to pay for her Yale degree—and she says ‘respect went up’ because of it
Success
Ex-PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi worked from midnight until 5 a.m. as a receptionist to pay for her Yale degree—and she says ‘respect went up’ because of it
By Preston ForeJuly 6, 2026
2 days ago
Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary says if he were 25 today, he'd chase these two booming opportunities in the world of AI
AI
Shark Tank's Kevin O'Leary says if he were 25 today, he'd chase these two booming opportunities in the world of AI
By Marco Quiroz-GutierrezJuly 5, 2026
4 days ago
Current price of oil as of July 8, 2026
Personal Finance
Current price of oil as of July 8, 2026
By Joseph HostetlerJuly 8, 2026
15 hours ago
Billionaires John and Laura Arnold have already donated nearly half their wealth. Now they're funding a hunt for the health risks of sports betting
Success
Billionaires John and Laura Arnold have already donated nearly half their wealth. Now they're funding a hunt for the health risks of sports betting
By Sydney LakeJuly 8, 2026
20 hours ago
$25 billion CEO says one-hour interviews are a waste of time—he puts candidates through six hours of tests and wants them to order wine at lunch
Success
$25 billion CEO says one-hour interviews are a waste of time—he puts candidates through six hours of tests and wants them to order wine at lunch
By Orianna Rosa RoyleJuly 3, 2026
6 days ago

© 2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.