Oregon Man Arrested for Tesla Dealership Attacks with Molotov Cocktails and AR-15 Style Rifle

An Oregon resident has been federally charged after allegedly attacking a Tesla dealership in Salem twice within a month, using Molotov cocktails in January and firearms in February.

Key Facts:

Adam Matthew Lansky, 41, was arrested Tuesday and charged with illegally possessing an unregistered destructive device.
Authorities allege Lansky threw multiple Molotov cocktails at Tesla vehicles and the showroom on January 20, 2025.
In a second attack on February 19, the suspect reportedly fired bullets into the dealership building and a vehicle.
Surveillance footage reportedly captured Lansky during the January attack, while his car was identified near the scene during the February incident.
According to court documents, the suspect pointed a semi-automatic rifle at a witness during the first incident.

The Rest of The Story:

Court documents reveal that during the January attack, the suspect walked between the building and parked vehicles, removed objects from a bag, set them on fire, and threw them at a red Tesla SUV and through the showroom window.

Several additional vehicles were targeted during this incident.

The February attack involved someone firing bullets into the dealership building and a vehicle, with witnesses reporting the suspect carried an AR-15 style rifle with a suppressor.

No suspects were apprehended at the scene of either attack, but investigators later connected Lansky to both incidents through surveillance footage and other evidence.

Breaking: A Portland far-left extremist has been arrested over the firebombing and shooting attacks on @Tesla in Salem, Ore.

Adam Matthew Lansky (b. Nov 1983) has been federally charged by the DOJ with illegally possessing an unregistered destructive device. He's accused of… pic.twitter.com/PxAGap722S

— Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) March 6, 2025

Lansky will remain in custody until his next court appearance on federal charges related to the possession of an unregistered destructive device.

Commentary:

These attacks on a Tesla dealership appear to be premeditated and methodically executed, suggesting they weren’t random acts of vandalism but rather politically motivated violence.

The timing of the first attack—on Inauguration Day—raises questions about the underlying motivations.

Lansky’s background as an audio engineer at the First Congregational United Church of Christ of Portland, which has been characterized as holding fringe religious views.

His reported history of training activists on weapons use demonstrates a concerning pattern of behavior that potentially escalated to these violent incidents.

The suspect’s alleged use of the alias “Allison Tesla” in various online activities suggests a fixation on the very company he’s accused of targeting.

This obsession, combined with his reported social media content focused on pornographic images, firearms and weapons, paints a picture of someone with deeply held animosities.

These incidents reflect a troubling trend of increasing political violence directed at Tesla locations, seemingly driven by hostility toward Elon Musk.

The escalation from arson to firearms within a month demonstrates a disturbing progression of tactics and danger.

The methodical nature of these attacks—using Molotov cocktails and then returning with firearms—indicates a determination to cause significant damage to the dealership.

That Lansky allegedly pointed a weapon at a witness shows a willingness to threaten human life, not just damage property.

The repeated targeting of the same location suggests these weren’t impulsive actions but part of a campaign against a specific symbol.

Had law enforcement not intervened, this pattern of escalation might have continued with potentially deadlier consequences.

The Bottom Line:

The federal charges against Adam Lansky represent serious allegations of premeditated attacks against a prominent business.

If convicted, these incidents would join a growing pattern of politically motivated property destruction targeting companies associated with controversial public figures.