The news about the federal indictment of a Colorado man for throwing an incendiary device at a Tesla dealership in Loveland has stirred up discussions and concerns in the United States. The suspect, Cooper Jo Frederick, was apprehended in Plano, Texas, and now faces several federal charges related to the incident.
According to Attorney General Pam Bondi, Frederick allegedly threw a Molotov cocktail at the Tesla dealership on March 7th, leading to charges of possession and manufacturing of incendiary devices, criminal mischief causing $5,000 to $20,000 in damages, and using an incendiary device in a felony. The Department of Justice is seeking a 20-year prison sentence for Frederick, who is being extradited to Colorado for prosecution.
Reports suggest that Frederick acted in concert with another individual who identified as female under the name Lucy Grace Nelson. Nelson has also been arrested and faces federal charges for involvement in the homemade incendiary device incident, as well as possession of unregistered firearms and attempted malicious destruction of property.
The Loveland Police Department revealed that the Tesla dealership had experienced five criminal incidents within approximately five weeks, including attempted bomb attacks, vandalism with thrown rocks at buildings and vehicles, and graffiti causing damage.
These incidents are part of a wave of protests and destruction aimed at Tesla stores nationwide, motivated by grievances against Elon Musk’s leadership of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and his actions to streamline operations, cut staff redundancies, save funds, and expose corruption. Attorney General Bondi has characterized these acts of vandalism and attacks as “domestic terrorism” and vowed to hold those responsible accountable at the federal level.
Violent incidents targeting Musk and Tesla dealerships have also spread to Europe. In Rome, Italy, a Tesla dealership in the suburbs was engulfed in flames overnight, causing the destruction of at least 17 Tesla vehicles.
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed on March 25th that the FBI had established a specialized task force to investigate the frequent attacks on Tesla. Patel labeled these incidents as “domestic terrorism” and assured that perpetrators would be pursued and brought to justice. The task force is currently collaborating closely with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives to combat these crimes.
Former President Trump expressed outrage over the attacks on Tesla, emphasizing his desire to see the violent offenders sentenced to 20 years in prison. He even suggested the possibility of sending them to serve time in prisons in El Salvador.
The escalation of violence against Tesla demonstrates the seriousness of the situation, prompting law enforcement agencies to take decisive actions to address the threats posed by domestic terrorism.