A Missouri man who allegedly firebombed a Tesla dealership in Kansas City has been released from federal custody so that he can receive gender-affirming care.
Owen McIntire, 19, was arrested earlier this month for the attack on March 17, in which he allegedly destroyed two Tesla Cybertrucks.
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Federal prosecutors had sought to keep the suspect behind bars ahead of a trial claiming he is a risk to public safety and may be detained for terrorism-related charges, after the Trump administration declared attacks on Tesla dealerships to be domestic terrorism.
But on April 24, US Magistrate Judge Jessica Hedges granted McIntire’s petition for his pre-trial release after his attorneys argued he has ‘serious and ongoing’ medical needs and treatments that likely would not be provided in prison, KSHB reports.
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He had also started receiving gender-affirming care the month of the Tesla attack – which would likely be interrupted or terminated in federal custody, his attorneys argued, according to court documents obtained by Fox 4 KC.
‘By moving back home with his parents, he will have access to the care providers who are familiar with him and his specific needs,’ they argued.
The attorneys also cited McIntire’s lack of a previous criminal history and his deep ties to the Kansas City area as reasons he would not be a flight risk.
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They have claimed that McIntire set fire on several Cybertrucks at around 11.15pm on March 17.
Just one minute later, a Kansas City police officer reported seeing smoke coming from one of the vehicles and found a Molotov cocktail that had failed to detonate nearby, according to the Kansas City Star.
It was described as a clear apple cider vinegar bottle, with a burnt rag found next to it on the pavement.
The officer wrote in his report that he tried to put out the flames with his fire extinguisher, but was unsuccessful – and the fire spread to another Cybertruck and damaged two charging stations before firefighters arrived on the scene.
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Surveillance footage from a nearby business and from the Tesla Center itself also reportedly showed McIntire wearing dark, flowy clothing and a women’s wide-brimmed hat and carrying a light-colored bag.
The footage from the Tesla Center even allegedly showed McIntire lighting a device and throwing it at a Cybertruck.
He then allegedly returned to the resident’s house and was seen leaving the area in his vehicle.
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McIntire was ultimately tracked down using traffic cameras, GPS, cellphone records, history from McIntire’s UMass badge and surveillance footage from Kansas City International Airport, KCTV reports.
Authorities also said a DNA analysis from the wide-brimmed hat, which was found near the first witness’ home, resulted in just one male profile.
At that point, McIntire was arrested on the University of Massachusetts campus and was charged with one count of unlawful possession of an unregistered destructive device and one count of malicious damage by fire of any property using interstate commerce.
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He has also been ordered to avoid all Tesla dealerships, and will be under home confinement with electronic monitoring.
But McIntire is also expected to appear in federal court on Thursday afternoon for an initial hearing.
* Original Article:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14665889/amp/Tesla-arsonist-Owen-McIntire-freed-gender-affirming-care.html?ito=smartnews
