A 19-year-old University of Massachusetts Boston student, Owen McIntire, has been arrested and charged in connection with the firebombing of a Tesla dealership during Spring Break, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Friday, April 18, McIntire was taken into custody by FBI agents on the UMass Boston campus and made an initial court appearance the same day.
According to a federal criminal complaint, McIntire faces charges of unlawful possession of an unregistered destructive device and malicious damage by fire of property used in interstate commerce. The alleged arson occurred on March 17 at a Tesla dealership in Kansas City, McIntire’s hometown, while they were on break from school.
Investigators say McIntire parked a block away from the dealership, approached on foot, and ignited a Molotov cocktail — fashioned from an apple cider vinegar bottle and a rag — before fleeing the scene. The fire damaged two Cybertrucks and two Tesla charging stations, with total damages exceeding $200,000.
Authorities were alerted when an officer spotted smoke rising from a Cybertruck. Surveillance footage and witness statements helped identify McIntire, who was seen wearing distinctive dark, flowy clothing and a wide-brimmed hat. The suspect allegedly discarded the hat nearby, which was later recovered and used for DNA testing.
Further evidence placing McIntire in the area included photographs of them with luggage at the Kansas City International Airport around the time of the attack.
This marks the second arrest in a series of arson incidents targeting Tesla dealerships across the United States.