Jason M. Frierson U.S. Attorney | U.S. Attorney for the District of Nevada
A Las Vegas resident has admitted to setting fire to vehicles and damaging property at a Tesla Collision center in March 2025. Court documents state that on March 18, 2025, Paul Hyon Kim spray-painted the word “RESIST” on the front entrance of the facility. He then used a PA-15 multi-caliber firearm with a .300 BLACKOUT upper receiver and a 7.62mm silencer to disable surveillance cameras and shoot at vehicles. Kim proceeded to throw three Molotov cocktails into three different vehicles; two of them exploded, causing fires, while the third failed to ignite. In total, five Tesla vehicles were damaged.
Kim pleaded guilty to two counts of arson involving property used in interstate commerce, one count of attempted arson, and one count of unlawful possession of an unregistered firearm classified as a destructive device. The charges carry a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison and could result in up to 70 years if maximum penalties are imposed.
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 relevant factors.
The announcement was made 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 the FBI, ATF, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, and received significant support from the Clark County Fire Department.
