WASHINGTON, D.C. — A 19-year-old Kansas City native and college student in Boston has been arrested and charged in connection with a suspected arson attack that damaged two Tesla Cybertrucks and charging stations at a dealership in Missouri.
Owen McIntire was taken into custody and made his first court appearance in the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts, where he faces two federal charges: unlawful possession of an unregistered destructive device and malicious damage by fire to property used in interstate commerce, according to a criminal complaint filed in the Western District of Missouri and unsealed on Monday.
The incident occurred on the night of March 17, when a Kansas City police officer spotted smoke and flames coming from a Tesla Cybertruck parked outside the Kansas City Tesla Center. A Molotov cocktail, which had not detonated, was found near the burning vehicle. The fire spread to a second Cybertruck and also damaged two nearby charging stations.
The total damage is estimated at over $213,000, with the vehicles valued at $105,485 and $107,485, and charging stations valued at $550 each.
Federal law enforcement emphasized the gravity of the act. Attorney General Pamela Bondi issued a stern warning:
“Let me be extremely clear to anyone who still wants to firebomb a Tesla property: you will not evade us… You will spend decades behind bars. It is not worth it.”
FBI Director Kash Patel called the arrest the second in a week involving targeted attacks against Tesla and stressed the agency’s commitment to prosecuting such acts:
“These actions are dangerous, they are illegal, and we are going to arrest those responsible.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) also played a key role. Acting ATF Director Dan Driscoll stated:
“This wasn’t vandalism — it was a violent criminal act. Thanks to the relentless work of ATF special agents and our partners, we now have a suspect in custody.”
The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean Foley and Trey Alford (Western District of Missouri), and Trial Attorney Patrick Cashman from the Department of Justice’s Counterterrorism Section. The FBI’s Kansas City and Boston Field Offices, ATF, and the Kansas City Police Department led the investigation.
As of now, McIntire remains presumed innocent, and the charges are merely allegations until proven in court.
Sources:
- U.S. Department of Justice press release
- FBI & ATF public statements
- Kansas City Police Department incident report
