Man accidentally sets himself on fire in act of protest against Tesla, SC cops say
A man wearing a face covering accidentally set himself on fire while burning three Tesla charging stations in an act of protest, South Carolina police said.
Before igniting the flames March 7, the man used red spray paint to write a profane message against President Donald Trump and “long live Ukraine” on the ground next to the charging stations outside of a Mellow Mushroom, according to a North Charleston Police Department report shared with McClatchy News.
Then, he used homemade Molotov cocktails to start the fire, police said. Witnesses told officers the man ran away after accidentally catching his back on fire, according to the report.
Fire officials cut power to the three stations that were ablaze, police said. Damages are an estimated $60,000, according to the report.
No arrests were made and the man was not located, but glass was collected as evidence, police said.
As of March 11, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is leading the investigation, police said.
What to know about Tesla protests
According to reports, there’s been an uptick in arson and vandalism of Tesla property since the company’s CEO, Elon Musk, began his role as head of the newly-formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), established by Trump.
McClatchy News reached out to Tesla for comment March 12 but did not receive an immediate response.
Trump bought a Tesla on March 11 in support of Musk.
“I think he’s been treated very unfairly by a very small group of people, and I just want people to know that he can’t be penalized for being a patriot,” Trump said about Musk.
The next day, House Speaker Mike Johnson made a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, about the attacks.
“Congress will investigate the sources of these attacks and help the DOJ & FBI ensure those responsible are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Johnson said.
This story was originally published March 12, 2025 at 2:48 PM with the headline "Man accidentally sets himself on fire in act of protest against Tesla, SC cops say."
