A suspect was arrested after a viral video captured a man keying a Tesla in a Costco parking lot in San Jose. The incident, which happened on Friday, was reported to the police who were able to identify, locate, and apprehend the individual responsible for the felony vandalism within less than 24 hours. The suspect’s name has not been released by the police. The video, recorded using the car’s Sentry Mode, shows a man wearing a “USA” leather jacket keying the side of the Tesla after parking his dark-colored Hyundai SUV next to it. A second video shows the suspect being confronted by an unidentified person who accused him of vandalism, leading to a denial from the suspect and his subsequent drive away from the scene.
In the confrontation video, the suspect can be seen denying the act of vandalism and attributing it to someone else. The recorder questions the suspect’s motive, suggesting it might be related to the Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk. The suspect responds by asking why he would key an American car while wearing a USA t-shirt and driving a Korean car. This interaction eventually leads to the suspect entering his car and leaving the scene. In response to the police department’s statement on the incident, Elon Musk reacted with an American flag emoji while San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan condemned the act as senseless and urged people to respect the law regardless of their personal beliefs or frustrations.
The incident involving the keying of the Tesla has sparked discussions about the recent surge in acts of vandalism targeting Teslas as protests against Elon Musk continue to escalate across the nation. As tensions rise, there have been reports of Tesla vehicles and charging stations being targeted by vandals. The San Jose police, in their statement, emphasized the need for people to respect each other and the law, regardless of any personal beliefs or frustrations they may have. The police warned that illegal actions cannot be justified by personal opinions or discontent, and urged the public to act lawfully and respectfully towards others.
The case of the keying incident involving a Tesla in a Costco parking lot has highlighted the need for people to refrain from unlawful actions regardless of their personal opinions or frustrations. The act of vandalism was caught on video, prompting swift action from the police who were able to identify and arrest the suspect within a short period of time. The incident has drawn attention to the surge in vandalism targeting Tesla vehicles amidst ongoing protests against Elon Musk. The police, Elon Musk, and San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan have all condemned the senseless act and emphasized the importance of respecting the law and others, regardless of individual beliefs or grievances. The incident serves as a reminder that illegal actions cannot be justified by personal frustrations and should not be tolerated in any form.
