A Las Vegas resident, Paul Hyon Kim, has pleaded guilty to charges related to an arson attack at a Tesla Collision center in March 2025. According to court documents, Kim spray-painted the word “RESIST” on the entrance of the facility before using a PA-15 multi-caliber firearm with a .300 BLACKOUT upper receiver and a 7.62mm silencer to disable surveillance cameras and fire shots into vehicles. He then threw three Molotov cocktails into vehicles; two ignited, causing fires, while the third failed to detonate. In total, five Tesla vehicles were damaged during the incident.
Kim admitted guilt to two counts of arson of property used in interstate commerce, one count of attempted arson of such property, and one count of unlawful possession of an unregistered firearm classified as a destructive device. The mandatory minimum sentence for these offenses is five years in prison, with a statutory maximum penalty reaching up to 70 years.
Sentencing is set for May 27, 2026, before United States District Judge Jennifer A. Dorsey. The final sentence will be determined by the judge after reviewing federal sentencing guidelines and other legal factors.
The case was announced by First Assistant United States Attorney Sigal Chattah for the District of Nevada, Special Agent in Charge Christopher S. Delzotto for the FBI Las Vegas Division, and Special Agent in Charge John Wester for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF) San Francisco Field Division.
The investigation involved collaboration between the FBI, ATF, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and received significant support from the Clark County Fire Department.
