Students could face “decades of prison” for alleged Tesla Firebomb attack in Missouri
A student may face “a prison decades later” after being accused of bombing at a Tesla dealership in Missouri.
Owen McIntire is accused of catching fire on two Tesla Cybertrucks worth more than $100,000 and damaged two $550 charging stations in Kansas City around 11:16 p.m. on March 17, the Justice Department said.
McIntire, a 19-year-old student at the University of Massachusetts at Boston University, appeared in federal court Friday and was charged with one count of illegal possession of an unregistered destructive device and suffered one malicious damage for any property used in interstate trade.
“Let me be very clear to anyone who still wants to blow up Tesla's property: you won't run away from us,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said. “You will be arrested. You will be prosecuted. You will spend decades in prison. It's not worth it.”
McIntire, a 19-year-old student at the University of Massachusetts at Boston University, appeared in federal court Friday and was charged with one count of illegal possession of an unregistered destructive device and suffered one malicious damage for any property used in interstate trade. (Ministry of Justice)
Prosecutors claimed McIntyre started the fire with a Molotov cocktail. A Kansas City police officer in the area found smoke from one of the Seberaks in the dealer’s parking lot and also found burns next to the Molotov cocktail, the affidavit said.
The officer tried to put out the flames, but failed and the second car caught fire. The affidavit said firefighters arrived at the scene and put out the fire.
The Justice Department said McIntyre was home when the incident occurred. The affidavit said the descriptions of the three witnesses matched the descriptions of McIntyre wearing that night.
“Personal wears dark flowing clothes and a large white hat with light-colored bags,” the affidavit said. The hat was later found in the backyard of witnesses the day after the fire.
Another witness filmed a video of the fire and posted it on X, the affidavit said. Witnesses claimed they saw McIntyre flee the scene.
The Justice Department said McIntyre was seen in surveillance videos at Kansas City International Airport after the incident. He was arrested by officers from Boston. (Ministry of Justice)
After the incident, the student was allegedly also under surveillance at Kansas City International Airport. Affadavit said law enforcement found evidence pointing to McIntyre after reviewing students’ social media profiles, cell phone data and flight information.
McIntyre was arrested after returning to school in Boston.
Bondi suppressed what she called a “wave of family terrorism” against Elon Musk's Tesla vehicles. This backlash came after billionaires played a central role in the Trump administration through the Department of Efficiency.
Last week, the Justice Department accused a man of causing damage at a Tesla dealership in New Mexico and set fire to the state Republican headquarters.
Criminal complaints charge Jamison R, 40, of Jamison R. Associated Press Report.
The Justice Department has charged four other cases with violations of people accused of using Molotov cocktails to destroy Tesla cars and fire departments.
