Nevada Man Charged in Connection with Violent Tesla Arson in Las Vegas

A Las Vegas resident appeared in U.S. District Court in Las Vegas, Nevada, to face federal charges related to an arson at a Tesla collision business.

Paul Hyon Kim, 36, was charged by criminal complaint with one count of unlawful possession of an unregistered firearm and one count of arson.

According to the complaint by the U.S. Department of Justice, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department patrol officers responded on March 18 to an emergency call about a person setting vehicles on fire and hearing gunshots at a Tesla collision business. The Clark County Fire Department arrived to suppress the fires.

An investigation found that Molotov cocktails and a .30 caliber AR-style firearm were used to damage and destroy five Tesla vehicles, and graffiti was sprayed to write “Resist” on the front of the building.

Law enforcement officials on March 26 executed state search warrants, including a search warrant at Kim’s residence. Inside the residence, they reportedly found various firearms, including an AR style rifle consistent with the firearm used in the March 18, incident and with a suppressor on it, a black gun belt with a pouch and a small drop of pink paint residue, a black hoodie, face masks, and a handwritten note with what appeared to be an escape plan.

Kim faces a maximum statutory penalty of 10 years in prison for the unlawful possession of an unregistered firearm charge and a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison up to a maximum of 20 years in prison for the arson charge.

Kim, who was arrested by Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers on March 26. He remains in federal custody.

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the Clark County District Attorney’s Office, the FBI, and the ATF are investigating the case and with significant assistance from the Clark County Fire Department. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jacob Operskalski for the District of Nevada and Trial Attorney Patrick Cashman of the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.

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