CRIME BLOTTER

‘I’ve worked very hard for this truck’: FBI investigates Lynnwood Tesla Cybertrucks vandalized with swastikas

Mar 12, 2025, 10:32 AM | Updated: 11:31 am

lynnwood tesla cybertrucks vandal...

A black Tesla Cybertruck was vandalized with swastikas and other graffiti. (Photo courtesy of @Rororowyaboatz via X)

(Photo courtesy of @Rororowyaboatz via X)

The Lynnwood Police Department (LPD) has launched an investigation into the vandalism against Tesla Cybertrucks at the company’s dealership after receiving several reports.

At the Lynnwood Tesla dealership, six different vehicles were spray painted with swastikas and profanity directed specifically at Tesla CEO Elon Musk. An employee at the dealership told LPD that the incident likely occurred on March 8 between midnight and 7 a.m.

“For one, you’re hurting people that work a 9-5 job. I’ve worked very hard for this truck. This was my pride and joy,” a Tesla Cybertruck owner, who asked to remain anonymous, told KING 5. “You’re not hurting Elon; I already purchased the truck. You’re hurting people that work for a living, and that’s extremely wrong. You want to make a political statement? Go and protest in front of dealerships; that’s fine. That’s your right, but to vandalize people’s property with hate symbols?”

Related on MyNorthwest: Tesla Cybertrucks burn overnight in Seattle, KIRO Newsradio reporter threatened with knife while covering

A clear rise in Teslas being targeted

The recent local attacks against Tesla are rising exponentially as of late.

Four Tesla Cybertrucks burned overnight in a lot near 4th Avenue and Spokane Street in Seattle on March 9. The lot serves as a temporary storage space for Teslas arriving from overseas before they are sent to dealerships. The Seattle Police Department (SPD) is working with federal law agency partners to investigate the incident.

“FBI Seattle is aware of multiple recent incidents in Washington state related to vandalism of Tesla vehicles and is working with our partners, including ATF and local law enforcement agencies, to determine if federal crimes were committed,” FBI Seattle stated. “We are not able to provide additional details at this time, but encourage anyone who has information to contact law enforcement.”

“We’ve had Special Agents go out there from our arson and explosives group to take a look at the vehicles and we’re currently investigating that in partnership with the Seattle Police Department,” Jason Chudy, the public information officer for the Seattle Office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tabacco, Firearms, and Explosives, said.

Vandalism of Tesla dealerships and vehicles has been reported across the nation alongside multiple reports of Tesla vehicle owners being harassed.

“An arson and shooting incident (happened) at a Tesla dealership down in Salem, Oregon,” Chudy said. “That was in January and there has been one person taken into custody and being charged federally with that.”

More on MyNorthwest: After OnlyFans discovery, Lynnwood City Council pick being reconsidered

Trump retaliating against Tesla vandals

President Donald Trump, standing alongside Tesla CEO and the Department of Government Efficiency’s leader Elon Musk on the White House’s South Lawn Tuesday, said he would label those committing violence against Tesla owners and dealerships as “domestic terrorists.”

“I’ll do it. I’m going to stop them … because they’re harming a great American company,” Trump said during the White House Tesla press conference Tuesday. “When you hurt an American company, especially a company like this that supplies so many jobs that others are unable to do.”

Tesla stock has dropped by 50% since December, including the most significant one-day drop in stock price in five years Monday — 15%.

Frank Sumrall is a content editor at MyNorthwest and producer of the Seattle Seahawks podcast, The Reset with Gee Scott. You can read his stories here and you can email him here.

Crime Blotter

tacoma police...

KIRO 7 News Staff

4th person arrested in death of Tacoma teen

A teenage boy was arrested Wednesday in connection with the death of a teen who was shot and killed in a Tacoma parking garage October 18.

2 hours ago

Sky Metalwala...

James Lynch

Nearly 15 years later, investigators still seek answers in toddler Sky Metalwala’s disappearance

As the anniversary of Sky Metalwala’s disappearance approaches, investigators are asking anyone who may have seen something to come forward.

3 hours ago

Seattle University...

James Lynch

Man accused of peering under Seattle University restroom stall held on $75,000 bail

Prosecutors alleged Karl George Allman, 42, looked beneath a restroom stall partition at a woman inside the women’s restroom at Seattle University.

14 hours ago

Ballots...

Nia Bliss, KIRO 7

USPS bins with elections ballots discovered in dumpsters at Seattle’s Golden Gardens

King County Elections (KCE) confirmed two bins with election ballots were found in a dumpster at Seattle’s Golden Gardens this week.

14 hours ago

drug trafficking Seattle Chinatown US Attorney...

Regan Gallo-Fenz

Final sentence handed down in Seattle Chinatown drug trafficking case

A Newscastle man has been sentenced to ten years in federal prison for leading drug trafficking operations across Seattle homeless encampments.

15 hours ago

CARE vehicle crisis response...

Julia Dallas

Seattle crisis response vehicle stolen during Greenwood welfare check

A CARE vehicle was stolen while responders were conducting a welfare check in Seattle's Greenwood neighborhood.

16 hours ago

‘I’ve worked very hard for this truck’: FBI investigates Lynnwood Tesla Cybertrucks vandalized with swastikas