Las Vegas Metropolitan Police held a press conference Thursday to announce the arrest of 36-year-old Paul Kim in connection to vehicle fires at a Tesla Collision Center on March 18, 2025. Kim allegedly set fire to multiple Tesla vehicles, discharged a firearm, and spray-painted “resist” on the building, according to authorities, and has been charged with both state and federal crimes.
Police allege Kim was the person seen in surveillance video on March 18, 2025, arriving in a black Hyundai Elantra, parking just east of the building and continuing on foot. Kim then allegedly shot the surveillance cameras with a rifle before turning the gun on some vehicles and allegedly using molotov cocktails on the cars.
At the state level, Kim has been charged with, according to a press release from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department:
- 3 Counts of Arson 3rd Degree
- 3 Counts of Unlawful Possession of Explosive or Incendiary Device
- 4 Counts of Destroy/Injure Real/Personal Property of Another $5000+
- 5 Counts of Discharge Firearm at or into a Vehicle or Structure
Kim has also been charged federally in the U.S. District Court in Las Vegas, Nevada, with one count of unlawful possession of an unregistered firearm, which carries the potential for 10 years in prison, and one count of arson, which can carry 5-20 years.
“The Department of Justice has been clear: anyone who participates in the wave of domestic terrorism targeting Tesla properties will suffer severe legal consequences,” Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a statement published online. “We will continue to find, arrest, and prosecute these attackers until the lesson is learned.”
Las Vegas police released several videos from March 18 showing someone setting fire to multiple cars.
Tesla dealerships and charging stations have been the target of vandals and arsonists over the past two months, ever since Tesla CEO Elon Musk gave two Nazi-style salutes on the day President Donald Trump was inaugurated. Musk has also been leading a team called DOGE to dismantle large parts of the U.S. federal government, often deploying completely illegal tactics to unilaterally shut down programs Musk doesn’t like. Congress, which famously has the power of the purse, is supposed to be the entity that chooses what to fund and not fund in government, and the Senate Appropriations Committee, recently sent a letter to the White House protesting the behavior.
Musk told Fox News in an interview Thursday night that he doesn’t really worry about the “crazy” people who are setting fires in arson attacks against Tesla dealerships, but instead blames “the ones pushing the lies and propaganda,” against Tesla.
Surveillance video captured from inside the Tesla collision center showing someone spray-painting “resist” on the outside of the building was also released by police, an apparent reference to resisting Musk’s involvement in the U.S. government.
Police released photos of guns allegedly found at Kim’s home as well as photos of Kim that appear to be scraped from social media. Las Vegas police claim they identified Kim through some DNA at the scene but wouldn’t elaborate on how the DNA was collected when asked about it at the press conference.
Police said at Thursday’s press conference that his social media presence suggests “loose” affiliations with Communist ideology and sympathy for Palestinians. The latter topic is considered a hot-button issue in the U.S. as federal authorities have been kidnapping international students in recent weeks for deportation proceedings after they expressed support for Palestinians who are being killed by Israeli forces in Gaza. Over 50,000 Palestinians have died in that conflict since October 7, 2023, when Hamas killed about 1,200 Israelis in a day of terror attacks, setting off a war that has decimated Gaza.
None of the images released by Las Vegas police on Thursday give a clear view of the person who was actually on the scene vandalizing property on March 18, 2025, and some of the images were extremely blurry. The image below, for instance, was released by Las Vegas police as a “suspect photo” on Thursday.
Kim was apprehended without incident, according to the press conference, and police seized electronic devices as well as a “black gun belt with a pouch” that cops claim “had pink residue on it.” The spray paint used on the building was pink.
The Las Vegas police were asked at the press conference if they had any concerns they may be targeted due to recent news the department was accepting a gift of free Tesla Cybertrucks from a mystery donor last month. The police said they were not worried.
“As promised, acts of violence and vandalism will not be tolerated, and today law enforcement personnel acted quickly to arrest an individual on charges including arson,” FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement. “Under Attorney General Bondi’s leadership, we will continue to pursue these investigations with the full force of law and will bring to justice anyone responsible for these attacks.”
