Teen Expected to Face 'Decades in Prison' After Allegedly Firebombing Cybertrucks | Carscoops
The FBI and local authorities in Kansas City are looking into the incident that occurred 7 hours ago, reported by Brad Anderson.
On March 17, two Tesla Cybertrucks were targeted at a Tesla facility, which has been characterized by local officials as a “violent criminal act.”
Owen McIntire, a 19-year-old student at the University of Massachusetts Boston, is facing federal charges after he reportedly set fire to a Tesla Cybertruck at the local facility. He appeared in court last week following his arrest, which came after U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi issued a strong warning that anyone involved in firebombing Tesla properties would face imprisonment.
The event unfolded on March 17 at approximately 11:16 p.m. when a Kansas City Police Department officer spotted smoke emanating from a parked Cybertruck at the Tesla Center. The officer discovered a Molotov cocktail ignited near the vehicle. By the time the Kansas City Fire Department arrived, the fire had spread to a second Cybertruck, and two charging stations were also affected.
In relation to the incident, Dan Driscoll, Acting Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), stated, “ATF’s Special Agents and forensic experts recovered and examined critical evidence—including Molotov cocktails—used in this intentional and hazardous arson. This was not merely vandalism; it was a violent criminal act.”
McIntire now faces charges for illegal possession of an unregistered destructive device and malicious damage by fire to property involved in interstate commerce. He is awaiting further proceedings after his initial hearing at the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts.
In light of the arrest, Attorney General Pamela Bondi remarked, “I want to be very clear to anyone contemplating firebombing a Tesla property: you will not escape our reach. You will be arrested, prosecuted, and serve decades in prison. It’s not worth it.”
This incident marks the second arrest in just a week related to attacks on Tesla facilities or vehicles. FBI Director Kash Patel emphasized, “These actions are dangerous and illegal, and we will ensure those responsible are arrested. We will collaborate with the Department of Justice to hold anyone committing such crimes accountable. I commend our FBI teams in Kansas City and Boston for their efforts.”
Screenshot via KMBC 9
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Teen Expected to Face 'Decades in Prison' After Allegedly Firebombing Cybertrucks | Carscoops
The FBI, along with local authorities in Kansas City, is looking into the incident.