A UMass Boston student is facing federal charges following an incident in which he allegedly attacked a Tesla dealership in Kansas City, Missouri. Yesterday, Owen McIntire, 19, was arrested by authorities in Boston according to the FBI. As reported by CBS News Boston, McIntire is accused of throwing a Molotov cocktail at the dealership while he was on spring break at his home city.
The arrest was conducted by FBI agents assisted by the campus police, and the university has currently withheld comment on the ongoing matter. McIntire, a Kansas City native, allegedly committed the act on March 17, causing damage to two Cybertrucks and a pair of charging stations. He made his initial appearance in the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts shortly after the arrest. The FBI estimates the trucks are valued at $105,485 and $107,485, while the charging stations cost about $550 each.
According to an affidavit obtained by WCVB, a Kansas City police officer spotted smoke emanating from a Cybertruck at the store and discovered fragments of a Molotov cocktail, consisting of an apple cider vinegar bottle and a rag. The fire, which reportedly spread from the first Cybertruck to a second one, required the Kansas City Fire Department's intervention to extinguish.
Surveillance video footage and witness accounts helped identify McIntire, who is said to have been wearing "dark flowy clothing and a large-brimmed hat." Following his destructive act, he allegedly drove away from the scene shortly before returning to Boston. "Peacefully protesting is protected activity. Arson and destruction of property – are violent crimes," FBI Boston’s Acting Special Agent in Charge James Crowley stated, emphasizing the distinction between lawful expression and criminal acts, according to CBS News Boston. McIntire now faces charges of unlawful possession of an unregistered destructive device and malicious damage by fire of any property used in interstate commerce.
Both the FBI Boston and Kansas City Field Offices, in collaboration with the Kansas City Police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, are conducting the ongoing investigation into the case. Meanwhile, UMass Boston has stated its intent to support students unsettled by the incident, offering resources for those with questions or concerns stemming from their fellow student's alleged actions.
