A 19-year-old Kansas City resident, Owen McIntire, attending college in Boston, has been arrested and charged in connection with an arson incident at a Tesla business in Kansas City, Missouri. McIntire faces charges of unlawful possession of an unregistered destructive device and malicious damage by fire to property used in interstate commerce.
According to an affidavit, on March 17 at approximately 11:16 p.m., a Kansas City police officer noticed smoke emanating from a grey Tesla Cybertruck parked at the Tesla Center. An unbroken incendiary device, commonly known as a Molotov cocktail, was found near the burning vehicle. The fire spread to a second Cybertruck and damaged two charging stations valued at approximately $550 each. The total value of the damaged vehicles was over $200,000.
Various law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, ATF, and local police, are investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean Foley and Trey Alford, along with Trial Attorney Patrick Cashman, are prosecuting the case. It is important to note that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
— new from Department of Justice (.gov)