Investigation into Tesla Attacks and SWATTING targeting supporters of Trump and customers of Elon Musk

The FBI, along with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), is actively investigating a series of attacks on Tesla vehicles, dealerships, and charging stations across the United States. These incidents, which include arson, gunfire, and vandalism, have been reported in multiple states such as Nevada, Oregon, Colorado, Missouri, Washington, Massachusetts, and South Carolina. Notable events include:

• Las Vegas, NV (March 18, 2025): Vandals used Molotov cocktails and fired at least three rounds at a Tesla Collision Center, damaging five vehicles and spray-painting "RESIST" on the entrance. The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is involved in this investigation.

• Kansas City, MO (March 18, 2025): Two Cybertrucks were set ablaze at a Tesla dealership, with the FBI and ATF collaborating with local police.

• Tigard, OR (March 6 and later): A Tesla dealership was shot at twice within a week, with seven rounds fired in the first incident, damaging cars and property.

• Seattle, WA (March 9, 2025): Four Cybertrucks were set on fire in a Tesla lot.

• Loveland, CO (Late January and February 2025): Multiple attacks involved Molotov cocktails and graffiti, including the word "Nazi," leading to the arrest of Lucy Grace Nelson on federal charges of malicious destruction of property.

As of March 21, 2025, authorities have arrested at least four individuals connected to these Tesla attacks:

• Three people were charged by the Department of Justice on March 20, 2025, in incidents across Charleston, SC; Loveland, CO; and Salem, OR, facing penalties ranging from five to twenty years in prison.

  
  

• Adam Lansky was apprehended in Salem, OR, linked to attacks involving gunfire and Molotov cocktails.

  
  

Despite claims from Elon Musk and President Donald Trump suggesting these attacks are coordinated, law enforcement officials and extremism experts have found no evidence of a centralized effort as of March 21, 2025. The FBI is treating these as individual incidents, with field offices coordinating with local and state partners. Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino confirmed on March 19, 2025, that teams are actively working on these cases alongside swatting investigations, emphasizing a commitment to homeland security.

Swatting Incidents Involving Conservative Influencers

The FBI, under Director Kash Patel, is also investigating a wave of swatting incidents targeting conservative social media influencers, which surged in mid-March 2025. Swatting involves hoax emergency calls designed to provoke armed police responses to victims’ homes. Key updates include:

• Timeline and Targets: Between March 11 and March 20, 2025, at least 15 confirmed swatting incidents targeted prominent conservative figures such as Gunther Eagleman, Chase Geiser (InfoWars), Nick Sortor, Joe Pagliarulo, Shawn Farash, and “Catturd” (with 3.6 million X followers). Some family members, like those of Nick Sortor, were also targeted.

• FBI Response: On March 14, 2025, Patel announced that the FBI was aware of this "dangerous trend" and was taking action to investigate and hold perpetrators accountable. He emphasized that this is not a political issue but a matter of public safety, endangering both civilians and officers.

• Details of Incidents:

  • Chase Geiser was swatted twice within 12 hours on March 12, 2025, with armed police ordering him out of his home.

  • Nick Sortor reported his father and sister being swatted on March 13, 2025, after a caller claimed his father was killing his family, preceded by an email labeling Sortor a "Nazi."

  • “Catturd” was swatted for the fourth time on March 14, 2025, though local police, familiar with prior incidents, handled it with minimal escalation.

  • Matt Van Swol reported a swatting on March 15 or 16, 2025, with a false claim he had murdered his wife.

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As of March 21, 2025, no arrests have been reported in connection with these swatting incidents, despite ongoing investigations. Patel has pledged collaboration with local law enforcement, and there is speculation on X about a possible coordinated effort by leftist agitators, though no concrete evidence has been publicly confirmed.

Both sets of incidents coincide with heightened backlash against Elon Musk’s role in the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which has led to significant federal job cuts and agency restructuring. The Tesla attacks are often linked to protests against Musk, with some featuring explicit political messages (e.g., “long live the Ukraine” in South Carolina). Similarly, the swatting targets are predominantly conservative influencers who support Trump and Musk, suggesting a possible retaliatory motive, though investigations have not yet established a definitive link between the two phenomena.

The FBI and DHS have underscored their commitment to tracing perpetrators, with tools to track phone numbers and locations, but swatting remains challenging to prosecute due to spoofing technologies. Meanwhile, legislative efforts, like the bipartisan “Preserving Safe Communities by Ending Swatting Act” introduced in January 2025, propose penalties of up to 20 years in prison if swatting results in serious injury or death, reflecting growing concern over these incidents.

This information reflects the state of investigations as of the latest reports, with ongoing developments expected as authorities continue their work. 17GEN4.com