Second shooting at Tesla dealership in Oregon amid rising attacks on company showrooms across US
A Tesla dealership in Tigard, Oregon, was hit by gunfire early Thursday morning. Officers responded to reports of shots fired at around 4:15 a.m. local time at the electric vehicle showroom.
No injuries were reported, but the building and several Tesla vehicles sustained significant damage.
This was the second shooting at the same location within a week. A previous attack occurred on March 6. The Tigard Police Department is working with federal agencies, including the FBI and ATF, to investigate. After both shootings, an ATF explosives detection dog was deployed to locate shell casings, reported news agency Associated Press.
The attacks come amid increasing hostility toward Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk after he took a key role in the Trump administration as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). This new department has pushed for large-scale federal budget cuts, sparking outrage among some groups.
Tesla has faced multiple acts of vandalism across the country. In Lynnwood, Washington, six Tesla Cybertrucks were defaced with swastikas and anti-Musk graffiti. In another incident, four Tesla Cybertrucks were destroyed in a fire in Seattle.
Seattle police have confirmed they are working with federal authorities to examine the attacks. While no suspects have been identified.
Amid Tesla’s ongoing struggles, President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that he is purchasing a new Tesla to show solidarity with Musk. The company has been experiencing declining sales and stock market losses in recent months.
At a White House press conference on Tuesday, he also signalled that he may label those responsible for violence at Tesla dealerships as “domestic terrorists”.
