Federal authorities are on the lookout for a masked individual suspected of setting a fire at a Tesla Supercharger hub in Washington state, according to the FBI’s Seattle division. Surveillance footage, recently made public, shows the man at the scene during the early hours of Tuesday morning.
The blaze erupted around 1:30 a.m. at the South Sound Center in Lacey, a retail area housing several major stores including Target and Kohl’s. Police said they received multiple 911 calls from nearby residents who reported a loud noise echoing through the area.
In a statement released later that day, Lacey police confirmed that the fire caused “substantial damage to the station and surrounding area.”
The FBI suspects the man involved could have suffered injuries due to his close proximity to what they referred to as “an explosion or intense heat,” noting possible signs of “a concussion, burns, or shrapnel injuries.” Officials did not definitively link the fire to an explosion but highlighted the possibility given the scene’s condition.
Authorities described the suspect as a White male, estimated to be between 5’10” and 6’2″. He was seen wearing a hooded dark jacket, gray pants, and a face covering. Surveillance video also captured him with a white bag—possibly plastic—and walking with what investigators referred to as a “unique gait.” He appears to have a limp in his right leg, which kicks outward, and at times, he holds his right hand behind his back.
In an effort to track his movements, the FBI is asking the public—particularly those in the vicinity of the Chehalis Western and Woodland Creek trails—to check any doorbell or security footage from Monday night through Tuesday morning. Authorities are especially interested in footage that could reveal the suspect entering a vehicle after the incident.
The incident is part of a wider pattern. Since January, Tesla properties—including dealerships and charging stations—have reportedly been targeted in at least nine US states. These attacks range from vandalism and gunfire to suspected arson, according to a federal alert issued earlier this month.
The motivation behind the recent uptick in attacks appears to be politically charged. Public backlash intensified after President Donald Trump named Tesla CEO Elon Musk as a policy advisor to his newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an appointment that stirred controversy nationwide.
While Tesla and Target have yet to release official statements on the Lacey incident, federal investigators continue to pursue leads in what is quickly shaping up to be a coordinated campaign of anti-Tesla activity.
