A Las Vegas resident, Paul Hyon Kim, aged 36, appeared in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas, Nevada, on charges related to an arson incident at a Tesla collision business. Kim is facing a criminal complaint with one count of unlawful possession of an unregistered firearm and one count of arson. He was arrested by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department on March 26 and remains in federal custody.
"The Department of Justice has been clear: anyone who participates in the wave of domestic terrorism targeting Tesla properties will suffer severe legal consequences," stated Attorney General Pamela Bondi. "We will continue to find, arrest, and prosecute these attackers until the lesson is learned."
FBI Director Kash Patel emphasized, "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."
According to the criminal complaint filed on March 27, 2025, and registered as Case No.: 2:25-mj-00261-EJY in the U.S. District Court District of Nevada, the incident happened on March 18 when Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers responded to reports of a person setting fire to vehicles and the sound of gunshots at the business. The Clark County Fire Department responded to the emergency, and upon investigation, it was found that Molotov cocktails and a .30 caliber AR-style firearm were used to damage and destroy five Tesla vehicles. Graffiti was sprayed on the building, with the word "Resist."
Subsequently, law enforcement executed state search warrants, including one at Kim's residence, locating multiple firearms, an AR-style rifle matching the one used in the incident, a suppressor, and various other items, including an escape plan.
Acting U.S. Attorney Sue Fahami for the District of Nevada noted the cooperation among various law enforcement agencies, saying, "Today’s federal charges demonstrate our strong partnerships and collaboration with law enforcement partners and the joint pursuit to end domestic terrorism."
If found guilty, Kim faces a maximum of 10 years in prison for the firearm charge and a minimum of five years up to 20 years for the arson charge. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the Clark County District Attorney's Office, the FBI, and the ATF are leading the investigation with assistance from the Clark County Fire Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob Operskalski and Trial Attorney Patrick Cashman of the National Security Division's Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.
It is emphasized that a complaint is merely an allegation, and defendants are considered innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in court.