Man arrested in connection to arson attack on Tesla location in Las Vegas

Police arrested a 36-year -old Las Vegas cinematographer and accused of him throwing Molotov cocktails and opening fire on Teslas earlier this month, officials said Thursday.

Paul Kim was booked into custody on Wednesday and was charged with multiple felonies, including arson and possession of an explosive device, Clark County jail records showed.

Detectives were able to spot Kim fleeing in a Black Honda Elantra and that helped them eventually identify and arrest him, according to assistant Sheriff Dori Koren of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.

Drones and license plate readers also played key roles in this case, LVMPD Sheriff Kevin McMahill said.

“The technology is actually what helped solve this in particular,” Sheriff Kevin McMahill said.

Kim will also face federal charges, in addition to the state case, said FBI Special Agent Spencer Evans, who runs the Las Vegas field office.

“For individuals who are contemplating similar attacks, there’s nothing courageous or noble about fire bombing private property and terrorizing your local community,” Evans said.

“The self-righteous mob cheering you on today, to commit acts of violence on their behalf, will leave you high and dry and forget about you tomorrow. And at the end of the day, you and you alone, will be held responsible and face the prospect of a lengthy prison sentence.”

A person, dressed all in black, attacked the Tesla Collision Center, at 6260 Badura Ave., at 2:45 a.m. on March 18 in what’s been a pattern of violent incidents against property associated with Elon Musk, the billionaire Tesla CEO and adviser to President Donald Trump.

The attacker “used what appeared to be a Molotov cocktails and a firearm to conduct his attack,” Koren said at the time.

The suspect also “fired three rounds into different Tesla vehicles,” in what Koren called a “targeted” attack.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.