ATF offers $5,000 reward for tips after Tesla firebombing in Kansas

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Americans protestation Musk astatine Tesla dealerships

Americans protestation Musk astatine Tesla dealerships 04:24

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is offering a $5,000 reward for accusation related to a Tesla firebombing successful Kansas successful April. 

Security cameras captured a fishy throwing 2 lit Molotov cocktails astatine the backmost of a Tesla collision halfway successful Lenexa, Kansas, astir 1:05 a.m. connected April 3, 2025, the ATF said successful a quality release. The fishy drove to and from the country successful a vehicle, the ATF said. The fishy has not been identified and the ATF did not picture the vehicle. 

Investigators person labeled the incidental an "intentional enactment of arson," the ATF said. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and section constabulary are besides investigating. 

"This was a calculated onslaught that could person caused important harm," said ATF Kansas City Special Agent successful Charge Bernard Hansen successful the quality release. 

ATF Kansas City Field Division is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for accusation related to the April 3, 2025, firebombing astatine a Tesla collision halfway successful Lenexa. At astir 1:05 a.m., a fishy exited a car, threw 2 Molotov cocktails astatine the collision halfway and near successful a conveyance seen successful the apical near country of the provided video. The occurrence was an intentional enactment of arson and investigators are seeking nationalist assistance to place the fishy and beforehand the investigation. “This was a calculated onslaught that could person caused important harm,” said ATF Kansas City Special Agent successful Charge Bernard Hansen. “We’re moving intimately with our partners astatine the FBI and Lenexa Police to place the idiosyncratic responsible, and we request the public’s help. If you saw thing oregon cognize something—even if it seems minor—now is the clip to talk up.” This lawsuit is being worked successful conjunction with the FBI Kansas City Field Office and the Lenexa Police Department. Anyone with accusation is urged to interaction FBI astatine 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324). Read much astatine https://www.atf.gov/news/reward-notices/atf-offers-5000-reward-lenexa-tesla-arson-case.

Posted by ATF connected Friday, June 6, 2025

Anyone with accusation astir the onslaught is asked to interaction the FBI astatine 1-800-CALL-FBI. To beryllium eligible for the ATF reward, a person's extremity indispensable pb to the apprehension and condemnation of the idiosyncratic oregon persons liable for the attack, the bureau said. Tipsters looking to person reward wealth indispensable permission their sanction and interaction information, the ATF said. 

"If you saw thing oregon cognize something—even if it seems minor—now is the clip to talk up," Hansen said. 

The incidental is one of respective attacks connected Tesla vehicles and facilities since President Trump returned to bureau successful January. Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, served arsenic a elder advisor to Trump and led the arguable Department of Government Efficiency, besides known arsenic DOGE. 

A antheral was charged with arson and different charges successful transportation with an attack that damaged multiple Teslas astatine a Las Vegas dealership successful March 2025. Another antheral was arrested and charged successful transportation with an arson attack astatine a New Mexico Tesla installation successful February. Tesla showrooms and facilities besides became the tract of protests successful the aboriginal months of Trump's 2nd term. 

Kerry Breen

Kerry Breen is simply a quality exertion astatine CBSNews.com. A postgraduate of New York University's Arthur L. Carter School of Journalism, she antecedently worked astatine NBC News' TODAY Digital. She covers existent events, breaking quality and issues including substance use.

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