A lipstick-wearing New Mexico man has been arrested in connection with a string of arson attacks on Tesla vehicles and GOP headquarters.
Jamison Wagner, 40, torched cars at the Tesla Albuquerque Showroom and set a doorway alight at the Republican Party of New Mexico offices, prosecutors said.
He used homemade napalm devices topped with distinctive lids which were later recovered following a search of his home, court documents state.
Wagner is also accused of daubing the showroom and six vehicles in swastika symbols and graffiti, which read ‘Die Elon,’ ‘Tesla Nazi Inc,’ and ‘Die Tesla Nazi’ among others phrases.
Wagner was arrested after he left a trail of clues behind at the scene which matched objects seized during a raid on his home, according to to prosecutors
These included remnants of homemade incendiary devices, graffiti spray paint and a stencil bearing the phrase ‘ICE = KKK’, the same words which had been emblazoned on the Republican party offices.
Investigators noted that several glass jars used for the improvised napalm materials found at the crime scenes contained a hand hand-written capital ‘I’ or ‘H’ letter their lids.
They stated that similar lids and jars were found at Wagner’s home.
Jamison Wagner, 40, has been arrested in connection with a string of arson attacks on Tesla vehicles and GOP headquarters
Wagner is charged with two counts of malicious damage or destruction of property by fire or explosives
Investigators claim Wagner used homemade napalm devices topped with distinctive lids which they say they recovered from his home
The February 9 arsonist left graffiti on the Tesla showroom and several of the cars
Wagner is charged with two counts of malicious damage or destruction of property by fire or explosives and will remain in custody pending a detention hearing which is scheduled for Wednesday.
If convicted of the current charges, he faces between five and twenty years in prison as to each count.
‘Let this be the final lesson to those taking part in this ongoing wave of political violence,’ Attorney General Pamela Bondi said.
‘We will arrest you, we will prosecute you, and we will not negotiate. Crimes have consequences.’
The first incident took place at the Tesla showroom on February 9 and left two vehicles damaged, according to the court documents.
Surveillance video captured the suspect on scene, and he was observed as a tall, light-skinned individual, possibly over 6 feet tall, wearing black clothing and a mask and carrying a white box.
On March 30, a second arson attack took place at the Republican Party headquarters leaving the front entryway significantly damaged.
At the scene, investigators collected shattered glass and metal lids from what appeared to be two to three separate glass containers.
A doorway was also set alight at the Republican Party of New Mexico offices on March 30
Prosecutors say they recovered these stencils from Wagner’s home. The phrase matches graffiti spray painted on the GOP HQ
Two of the lids bore a handwritten capital ‘I’ or ‘H,’ similar in appearance to the letter found on the lid of the glass container at the Tesla scene, prosecutors said.
Surveillance footage also captured the suspect parked up in a white sedan prior to the blaze, which matches Wagner’s white 2015 Hyundai Accent, according to prosecutors.
‘A single individual exited the vehicle, approached the RPNM headquarters, and a flash of light was recorded,’ the DOJ said.
Anti-Elon Musk demonstrations have erupted across the US with protesters attacking Tesla showrooms with guns and Molotov cocktails.
Last month dozens of fired-up crowds assembled outside Tesla stores across the country to protest against Musk’s efforts to slash government spending and enact reforms.
Demonstrations also erupted in London, Portugal, Malaysia and Iceland.
Roughly 250 activists were gathered outside a showroom in New York City, holding anti-Musk placards that read ‘Block Facism Now and ‘Musk Must Go’ as they shouted ‘Elon Musk is not elected! Democracy must be protected!’
The DOGE head and Tesla boss has since said anyone caught vandalizing the vehicles will be treated as terrorists.
Investigators caught the suspect approaching the Tesla Albuquerque Showroom and claim the description matches Wagner’s appearance
If convicted of the current charges, he faces between five and twenty years in prison as to each count
‘Hurling firebombs is not political protest,’ said Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.
‘It is a dangerous felony that we will prosecute to the maximum extent.
‘The impressive work by law enforcement in New Mexico sends a clear message to perpetrators of all of the shameful attacks on Tesla facilities and political establishments: we are coming for you, you can’t hide, and you will do serious jail time to pay for your crimes.’
