A man accused of firebombing a Tesla dealership in Colorado is facing federal charges, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced on Monday.
Cooper Jo Fredrick, 24, was apprehended in Plano, Texas, on suspicion of carrying out the attack on March 7 in Loveland, Colo., according to Bondi.
“Let this serve as a warning. You may try to flee, but you cannot escape justice,” Bondi stated in a video message. “Justice will prevail.”
Fredrick, a Fort Collins resident, allegedly set off an incendiary device and threw it at the dealership, narrowly missing several parked vehicles.
The device landed between two cars, sparking a fire, as reported by the Loveland police.
Several individuals inside the dealership who were cleaning the premises were present at the time of the incident.
However, a vigilant officer at the scene managed to extinguish the flames, preventing any injuries.
The building and multiple vehicles suffered damage from the attack, including rocks being thrown, according to the police.
Fredrick was taken into custody a week following the assault. Federal prosecutors are seeking a 20-year prison sentence for him.
Apart from the federal charges, Fredrick also faces local charges such as second-degree arson and possession of explosives or incendiary devices.
He is among a group of suspects who have been charged in connection with a series of attacks on Tesla dealerships and factories in recent weeks.
These attacks seemed to be targeted at Tesla CEO Elon Musk and his involvement with the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
In a separate incident on Feb. 27, Lucy Grace Nelson, also known as Justin Thomas Nelson, is also facing charges related to the same Loveland dealership.
In response to these incidents, the FBI has initiated a task force to combat the violence. This task force, formed in collaboration with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF), aims to coordinate investigative efforts.
