Anderson Garcia told KSTU-TV that taking his family to the local WestFest celebration Sunday night was not in his plans.
"I didn't even know the fair was going to be there," Garcia recounted to the station about the annual four-day event, which took place at Centennial Park in West Valley City, Utah. "I was going to the Walmart, and my baby started crying. ... I looked to my right side, and I see the fair. All I wanted was for my babies to be happy there, to have fun."
'For three years, I struggled with infertility, and I was finally blessed with two boys. My baby was such a happy baby.'
Sunday was the final day of WestFest, which featured "food, fun, and festivities" such as music and carnival rides about 20 minutes southwest of Salt Lake City.
Garcia added to KUTV-TV that his family was just about to leave WestFest but stopped to look at a ride — and that's when gunfire broke out.
“I said to my wife, 'Run, that’s gunfire, run.' I pushed her out of the way, and all I did was use my body to cover the boys," he recounted to KUTV. "I thought I rather the gunfire hit me than my children."
Garcia on this Father's Day also tried to use his body to cover the stroller, KUTV said.
Tragically, Garcia's 8-month-old son — Anderson Garcia Cabrera Jr. — was hit by gunfire and died, KSTU reported.
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A 16-year-old male opened fire amid an argument between two groups at the festival, police said, and two others also were fatally shot: 18-year-old Hassan Lugundi of West Valley City — a male from one of the arguing groups — and 41-year-old Fnu Reena, a female bystander from West Jordan.
Adding to the heartache, Garcia's wife — Mehili Cabrera — told KUTV that baby Anderson was a twin born after lengthy infertility obstacles.
"I have my heart and soul broken," Cabrera said to KUTV. "For three years, I struggled with infertility, and I was finally blessed with two boys. My baby was such a happy baby."
The devastated mother also said baby Anderson was just learning to crawl, KUTV noted, and that so many people loved him.
Indeed, the family wrote in a GoFundMe message that "what was meant to be a joyful Father's Day celebration ... became the most heartbreaking night of our lives. We are devastated and struggling to process this unimaginable loss."
Baby Anderson's family hope to lay him to rest in their home country of Guatemala, KSTU noted, "so he can rest in peace surrounded by our family and loved ones."
"He was a happy baby. I've never seen one like him," his father added to KSTU. "What I want: He goes where I come from."
The family's GoFundMe campaign can be found here; as of late Tuesday afternoon, nearly $54,000 has been raised as part of a $100,000 goal.
Police said gunfire at the festival also wounded two teens — a 17-year-old female and a 15-year-old male — in their arms. Police added that it's not clear if the two wounded teens were connected to the arguing groups.
The 16-year-old male suspect was taken into custody, police said, adding that an officer fired but didn't hit the suspect. Police also said the suspect was taken to the police station for questioning.
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Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill told KSTU-TV in a previous story that it's too early to determine if the teen suspect will be charged as a juvenile or as an adult.
“We have not yet screened the case. Whether a case is filed in a juvenile or district court is a decision that is made at time of filing," Gill said in a statement, according to KSTU. "It would be premature for us to talk about these matters at this time."
A shocked employee of a business located next to the park told Blaze News that he feels "bad for what happened" and added that it was completely out of the ordinary for the area.
"I'd definitely say it was a one-off," the worker noted to Blaze News before acknowledging the "dark" nature of the crime.
A pregnant woman also was injured while trying to climb a fence to flee the scene, KUTV-TV reported in a previous story.
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Roxeanne Vainuku, public information officer for West Valley City police, told KUTV that "it's heartbreaking, I think for all of us, to see something like this happen at something that is just a real treasure, something that we really enjoy in our community."
Vainuku added to the station that it's not clear if the shooting was gang-related. KUTV also said police won't release the name of the suspect since he's a juvenile.
"I don't even know how to explain this night," one witness told KSTU. "I am traumatized. I don't think I would ever go to a fair, especially if they're not checking the people that walk in."
Another witness added to KSTU: "I was very scared because I'm not used to hearing gunshots, and I almost had a panic attack because that was scary."
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Police officers on duty at the annual WestFest carnival in West Valley City, Utah — which is about 20 minutes southwest of Salt Lake City — noticed two groups of people arguing around 9:20 p.m. Sunday, police said.
As officers approached the groups to break things up, police said a 16-year-old male from one of the groups pulled a gun and opened fire.
'I don't even know how to explain this night.'
Police said the following victims were fatally shot: 18-year-old Hassan Lugundi of West Valley City — a male from one of the arguing groups; 41-year-old Fnu Reena — a female bystander from West Jordan; and an 8-month-old boy whose name authorities won't release.
According to KSTU-TV, the 41-year-old female victim and the infant victim were not connected to each other.
Police said gunfire struck two teens — a 17-year-old female and a 15-year-old male — in their arms. Police added that it's not clear if the two wounded teens were connected to the arguing groups.
The 16-year-old male suspect was taken into custody, police said, adding that an officer fired but didn't hit the suspect. Police also said the suspect was taken to the police station for questioning.
Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill told KSTU it's too early to determine if the teen suspect will be charged as a juvenile or as an adult.
“We have not yet screened the case. Whether a case is filed in a juvenile or district court is a decision that is made at time of filing," Gill said in a statement, according to KSTU. "It would be premature for us to talk about these matters at this time."
RELATED: Former reality TV contestant shot and killed at No Kings protest by 'peacekeeper,' police say
Sunday was the final day of the four-day event, which took place at Centennial Park and featured "food, fun, and festivities" such as music and carnival rides.
A shocked employee of a business located next to the park told Blaze News on Monday afternoon that he feels "bad for what happened" and added that it was completely out of the ordinary for the area.
"I'd definitely say it was a one-off," the worker noted to Blaze News before acknowledging the "dark" nature of the crime.
RELATED: 'No brainer': Utah becomes first state to ban rainbow flags in both schools and government buildings
A pregnant woman also was injured while trying to climb a fence to flee the scene, KUTV-TV reported.
Roxeanne Vainuku — public information officer for West Valley City police — told KUTV that "it's heartbreaking, I think for all of us, to see something like this happen at something that is just a real treasure, something that we really enjoy in our community."
Vainuku added to the station that it's not clear if the shooting was gang-related. KUTV also said police won't release the name of the suspect since he's a juvenile.
"I don't even know how to explain this night," one witness told KSTU. "I am traumatized. I don't think I would ever go to a fair, especially if they're not checking the people that walk in."
Another witness added to KSTU: "I was very scared because I'm not used to hearing gunshots, and I almost had a panic attack because that was scary."
Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!
Among the biggest stories of the moment is the increasing deluge of Tesla vehicle vandalism — and worse.
Ever since the car company's CEO, Elon Musk, earlier this year joined President Donald Trump's team as the leader of the DOGE — the Department of Government Efficiency — and began cutbacks, leftists far and wide have been losing their minds.
'We don't allow people to act out based on what they believe their political affiliations are and what upsets them and who they are upset with, and allow them to take things into their own hands and become essentially a vigilante. ... What does that say about our country?'
One of the ways they've carried out their anger is vandalism of Tesla cars, primarily by "keying" them — scraping keys or other hard objects against the exterior surface as the offenders walk by.
Blaze News has looked at example after example of this woke phenomenon, and ironically Tesla's onboard Sentry Mode has caught the crooks red-handed, as the technology can record video of activity outside the vehicles.
For example, police in Lakewood, Colorado, arrested Shaydan Hessner and charged the 29-year-old for criminal tampering after video showed a Tesla Cybertruck getting keyed last month in the parking lot of the Colorado Mills Mall, KDVR-TV reported.
Indeed, similar acts have been occurring at an alarming pace. Blaze News has noted documented attacks against Tesla — including arson and vandalism — as well as leftist violence against the cars in more than 20 states.
Here's a rundown, just for starters:
The following are further examples, fleshed out with more detail, of the left's recent lawlessness.
A 70-year-old male at a Tesla dealership protest in Meridian, Idaho, is accused of driving his car into a counterprotester, KIVI-TV reported. Christopher Talbot of Meridian made an "obscene gesture" toward a 49-year-old man before hitting the man with his car at the dealership on Franklin Road around 1 p.m. Saturday, the station said, citing the Meridian Police Department.
KIVI said the victim had just parked his truck — which was decorated with flags supporting President Donald Trump — and exited the vehicle when Talbot allegedly hit him with his car. The victim then transported himself to a nearby hospital, where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries, the station said. The victim took note of Talbot's license plate, after which police went to Talbot's residence and arrested him, KIVI said.
Talbot was booked into the Ada County Jail and charged with one count of aggravated battery, the station said. He was not granted bail.
At the time of the incident, about 30 Tesla protesters and about 200 counterprotesters were gathered at the dealership, KBOI-TV reported, adding that the victim was identified as a counterprotester. You can view a video report here about the incident.
Video caught the moment when a male riding an ATV slammed it into a Tesla vehicle. The suspect reportedly vandalized other Teslas the same day. Police in Texarkana, Texas, arrested 33-year-old Demarkeyun Marquize Cox on March 25 on charges of criminal mischief and failure to identify/giving false information. Jail records indicate Cox stands 5'2" and weighs 449 pounds. His total bond is $105,000.
Police said Cox's rampage began at the Golden Place restaurant on Summerhill Road, where he was captured on the Tesla's surveillance footage ramming into it at full speed. They were investigating the incident when police got a report of another Tesla damaged in a Lowe's parking lot. Police said soon after they saw a man fitting the provided description riding an ATV near the intersection of Summerhill and New Boston Roads. When they questioned Cox, he reportedly gave them a false name. Police got a third report of Tesla vandalism near Genesis Prime Care on College Drive after they arrested Cox. Police also said that the word "Elon" was scratched into two vehicles.
You can view a video report here from WBIR-TV about the arrest.
A 61-year-old Tesla driver told KTVK-TV a male motorist recently cut her off, boxed her in, then exited his car and repeatedly punched her on a busy road in Flagstaff, Arizona. The woman, who wants to remain anonymous and went by the alias "Susan," explained to the station that she was on Route 66 when another vehicle started chasing her.
KTVK said Susan has video of the incident, and it shows a motorist in a green car pulling up next to her and then swerving in front of her and boxing her in. Susan told the station that the motorist then exited his car, walked over to her as she was behind the wheel of her Tesla, and then began punching her.
Susan told the station she soon bit her attacker's hand; indeed, video shows the male at one point pulling his hand away from the Tesla and shaking it. Moments later, video shows the male motorist's passenger exiting the green car and pulling the attacker away, after which the pair drive off.
Flagstaff police cited the suspect, who was due in court March 31, the station said.
A statement from police said officers responded to reports of "a road rage incident that escalated into a violent encounter" around 12:30 p.m. March 19, KSAZ-TV reported, adding that investigators said the incident involved a Tesla and a Chevrolet Cavalier.
"The driver of the Cavalier, later identified as Robert Artherton, 33, of Flagstaff, drove in front of the Tesla, causing both vehicles to stop in the roadway," the statement said in part, KSAZ reported, adding that Artherton exited his vehicle and approached the driver’s side of the Tesla, after which a confrontation ensued.
KSAZ said both parties gave conflicting accounts regarding what took place, and police said they both suffered minor injuries. "All parties involved allege that the incident was triggered by driving behaviors, honking, and disorderly hand gestures," officials said in the statement, KSAZ noted.
"Mr. Artherton was arrested via a criminal citation for disorderly conduct, assault, and aggressive driving in lieu of detention due to seeking medical attention for an injury to his hand," the statement said in part, according to KSAZ.
KTVK reported that another female Tesla owner said she recently departed a Flagstaff grocery store and found a note on her car that read, “She’s a Nazi and a loser.” A few weeks later, she received a threatening text calling her a “Racist POS," the station said.
KTVK said both Tesla owners also signed up for a gun safety course at Timberline Firearms, which is north of Flagstaff.
“They were targeted because they drove a Tesla and, as a result, felt quite vulnerable,” shop owner Rob Wilson told KTVK. “They were surprised someone would do something like that and realized if they were doing it, and targeting them because of car they drive, they needed to take additional measures to protect themselves.”
You can view a video report here about what happened to both Tesla drivers.
The family of 18-year-old Abigail Gill owns a Tesla Model X because its automated driving function helps her drive more easily, the Wichita Eagle reported. Abigail has spinal muscular atrophy, and she uses a wheelchair, the paper said.
Abigail was out to eat with her mother, brother, and boyfriend on March 20, the paper said, after which they noticed the Tesla had been keyed deeply on both sides. Video connected to the Tesla showed that a male who had been sitting next to them had left the restaurant, keyed the passenger side of the Tesla, went back inside, came out again, and keyed the other side of the Tesla, then then picked up his family, the Eagle said.
Video also picked up the suspected culprit's face as well as the license plate of his car, she also told the Eagle.
Johnathan F. Erhart, 30, was charged with one count of criminal damage to property on March 28, the paper said. If convicted, he could be sentenced from five to 17 months in prison, the Eagle said, citing Kansas sentencing guidelines.
"It’s a super saddening and disappointing thing to see," Abigail told Fox News regarding the incident. You can view a video report about the incident here, which includes an interview with Abigail and security video of the culprit caught in the act.
A male was caught on Tesla security video spray-painting graffiti on the Tesla in a Whole Foods parking lot in Berkeley, California, KGO-TV reported, adding that the incident took place March 16 and paint cans can be seen in both of the culprit's hands.
The Tesla owner, who identified himself as Hiroshi, told the station, "I wasn't shocked because this has been happening so frequently. Even the police, when they showed up, both officers are Tesla owners as well. They expressed to me that they've been dealing with this so much. It's like a trend."
Berkeley police have not identified the suspect, KGO said, adding that Hiroshi noted that he had the spray paint removed and is remaining loyal to Tesla. In fact, he told the station he plans to expedite his order for Tesla's new Cybertruck.
You can view a video report here about the incident.
A Tesla Cybertruck owner who did not want to give his name told WZZM-TV that on March 15 he found a hateful message written on his vehicle at an undisclosed location in Western Michigan's Kent County.
The message read, "F**k off Nazi." You can view a video report here about the incident.
“We were out with my friends having dinner and drinks and come out to the vehicle with the message on the window," he told WZZM, adding that "there were people around the truck and taking photos and a lot of people laughing. It was very disappointing and frustrating.” He added to the station that his friends were "were embarrassed about it.”
The victim also told WZZM that he ordered the $100,000 Cybertruck four years ago, well prior to Elon Musk's work with the Trump administration. While the station said he didn't share his political views, he also said it doesn't matter: “Everyone works hard for what they have, and regardless of their political views, we should respect that.”
He also told WZZM that he has no plans to sell his Tesla to avoid such incidents: “I’m not going to let people tell me what I should buy or not buy.”
Still, he told the station that every day "I do get a lot of middle fingers" and that "it does not bother me as much when I’m by myself, but when we have kids inside the car, it’s kind of disappointing ... and sad.”
The victim told WZZM he plans to turn in the video to police. The Kent County Prosecutor's Office noted to the station that punishment for such an offense could result in a charge of malicious destruction of property.
A male who appeared to be protesting against Elon Musk's political activity accidentally lit himself on fire while trying to vandalize electronic vehicle charging stations, according to South Carolina police.
The incident unfolded on March 13 at the Tesla charging stations near a Mellow Mushroom pizzeria in northern Charleston. The male wrote "Free Ukraine" as well as another message against President Donald Trump with an expletive included, according to a report from the North Charleston Police Department.
Police said the male lit material stuffed into beer bottles and threw them at the stations. Witnesses told police the male lit himself on fire by accident and then fled from the scene.
Firefighters cut power to the chargers and then extinguished the fire. Investigators collected beer bottles from the alleged attack and had been trying to lift fingerprints from the glass. Police estimated that the male caused about $60,000 in damage to the charging stations.
Daniel Clarke-Pounder, 24, of James Island was arrested and charged with arson in connection with the incident, according to a March 14 news release from the U.S. Justice Department. Clarke-Pounder faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
A mother on her way to a doctor's appointment on March 19 in Lynnwood, Washington, told KCPQ-TV a male wearing a ski mask and a camouflage jacket harassed her in a scary incident because she was driving a Tesla.
Leigh, a Tesla owner for the last two years, added to the station, "He gets out and walks straight up to my door window. So I cracked my window, and I said, ‘What? What is the problem?’ He goes, ‘You need to sell your car. This is a Nazi car. You're driving it, you need to sell your car.’"
Leigh recounted to KCPQ, "I could only see his eyes. ... I had no idea if I was safe or not. I felt very threatened."
You can view a video report here about the incident; it includes a clip of the masked male in question approaching her Tesla.
A week prior in Lynnwood, a number of Tesla Cybertrucks were spray-painted with graffiti and swastikas at a Tesla Service Station, KIRO-TV reported. The owner of one of the vandalized cars told the station that "as a gay Jewish person, I was kind of taken aback." The victim posted photos of the vandalism on X.
The new video — which was livestreamed to Facebook — shows the Tesla owner allegedly confronting the suspect, who tells the owner, "I can wipe it off with a towel — it's not a key, it's a crayon." He added to the Tesla owner, "It didn't even work."
But the Tesla owner explains that his car is being fingerprinted by the police "right now," after which the confronted male asks, "What do you mean it's being fingerprinted?"
The Tesla owner said police were trying to "track" the suspect down but noted that Facebook users tracked him down.
“I’m sorry. I have nothing against your car, and I have nothing against you," the suspect is heard saying on video.
The Tesla owner asks the alleged suspect why he would scratch a swastika on his Tesla, after which the confronted male replies, "Obviously, I have something against Elon Musk" and admits that his actions were "misguided."
The Central Bucks Regional Police Department said in a statement that the suspect was identified by his gym membership identification card and his Pennsylvania driver's license. A criminal complaint was filed, and police on March 27 issued an arrest warrant for 55-year-old Chadd Ritenbaugh, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. He was hit with charges of criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, and two counts of harassment.
A masked male was caught on video spray-painting the word "Nazi" on both sides of a Tesla Cybertruck in the middle of the night in Tulsa, Oklahoma, KFOR-TV reported.
Tulsa police said officers were called to a Residence Inn at 3:20 a.m. March 11, the station said, adding that the Cybertruck owner received a notification on her phone that someone was tampering with her vehicle. The suspect fled by the time she got to the parking lot, KFOR said.
You can view a video report here about the incident. Those with information about the person responsible can contact Tulsa Crime Stoppers at 918-596-COPS with the reference number 2025-011539.
A Texas Tesla owner has filed a $1 million civil lawsuit against the male accused of keying his Model X last month when it was parked at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport, KTVT-TV reported.
DFW Airport Police arrested Rafael Hernandez in late March and charged him with criminal mischief, the station said, adding that the accused is expected to make his first court appearance on April 8. In the lawsuit, the Tesla owner is identified only by his initials due to fear of threats, KTVT added.
Majed Nachawati, managing partner with the Nachawati Legal Group in Dallas, which is representing the Tesla owner, told the station that "this matter has nothing to do with his political persuasions or affiliations. He happens to believe that Tesla, his Model X, is one of the best cars he's ever owned. And he enjoys driving it, plain and simple."
The Tesla's onboard camera captured images of a male holding a key fob and appearing to use it to vandalize the vehicle, the station said. The car's owner shared video of the alleged vandalism on social media, hoping to identify the culprit, after which it went viral and led to Hernandez's arrest, KTVK said.
"It's just kind of mind-boggling to me that there are people who are so triggered and so disturbed by anything these days that they can go so far as to just cause harm to somebody," the car's owner told the station soon after the incident.
More from KTVK:
Attorneys for the Tesla owner whose car was keyed said attacks on private individuals due to political disagreements cannot be tolerated. They acknowledged that the vehicle itself is not worth $1 million, but admit their client also wants to send a message with the lawsuit. He's hoping to discourage other acts of violence.
"We don't allow people to act out based on what they believe their political affiliations are and what upsets them and who they are upset with, and allow them to take things into their own hands and become essentially a vigilante. ... What does that say about our country?" Nachawati said. "Whether you're a Republican, whether you're a Democrat, I believe anyone who sees the video and who sees what happened would believe that deterrence would be the biggest part of this case."
A male caught on video keying a Tesla in the parking lot of a Houston Whole Foods on Feb. 13 confessed to the crime but told KPRC-TV that his actions weren't politically motivated.
Nicholas Carrion told the station that his behavior was the result of road rage after he said the Tesla driver cut him off, and he decided to follow her into the Whole Foods parking lot.
“I felt anger because the woman cut me off. We were both going into the Whole Foods, so I did not follow her directly. I got out and went to the store,” Carrion noted to KPRC. “But after I did my shopping, I came back outside and just couldn’t let it go.”
Carrion is now facing charges of felony criminal mischief — not terrorism charges — for the damage he caused to the woman’s Tesla, the station said. Carrion sent the following message to the victim: “I did not mean to cause you that much fear. This was in no way politically motivated. I just hope you are able to live a normal life and not be in fear to just do normal activities and drive around in the Tesla.”
The victim, however, told KPRC she had no prior knowledge of any road rage incident, expressed disbelief, and said if she had been aware of a confrontation, she wouldn't have left her car unattended in the parking lot. You can view a video report here about the new developments.
An unidentified individual wearing a face mask was caught on video March 16 scrawling, "This car supports Nazis," on a Tesla vehicle in downtown Syracuse, WSTM-TV reported.
“Protesting is a right that we all have, but destroying people’s property is not," the car owner, Shawn Freed, told the station in an interview.
Freed posted the video of the vandalism to his X account, after which Trending Politics co-owner Collin Rugg reposted the clip.
Despite the hassle, Freed told WSTM he's not getting rid of his car: "In some ways, I see myself as someone who is a voice for the other people who are innocent bystanders who have their property destroyed."
Freed added to the station that he reported the vandalism to Syracuse police, who are investigating. You can check out a video report here about the incident, which also includes the interview with Freed.
The Tesla's owner said the alleged gum-wad vandalism was captured on the built-in cameras of his car, which was in the parking garage of the JCPenney store at the Aventura Mall around 12:45 p.m. March 22.
Yamaris Marrero, 45, of Hallandale Beach was arrested and charged with a felony. Police said she was identified through the video, which showed a vandal smearing the large wad of gum on the car's door handle and then spitting on it. She was also seen getting into a white Honda Pilot before leaving the garage. The Tesla's owner said the damage from the gum rendered the door handle inoperable.
The police report said a security guard spotted Marrero at the mall food court on March 27, after which she was arrested. Police said she made an admission that was redacted from the publicly released report.
Marrero originally was charged for criminal mischief with a hate crime enhancement, but that was dropped on March 28, and the charge was lowered from a second-degree felony to a third-degree felony. She was held on a $2,500 bond at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.
The Tesla's owner told WPLG-TV that politics probably motivated the vandalism and that there was no personal interaction between him and the accused woman; police said it was not a traffic dispute.
The interview with the Tesla owner can be viewed on WPLG's video report on YouTube, while the video of the woman smearing the gum can be viewed on an earlier news report.
A witness told Seattle police that on the night of March 13, a male threw gasoline on a Tesla Model S in the city's Capitol Hill neighborhood, lit the car on fire, and ran off, KING-TV reported.
Police told the station the right front tire area was damaged, while the quarter panel, the hood, and the car's battery all melted. The Seattle Fire Department put out the fire, KING said, adding that police said they are investigating the incident as arson.
The suspect has not been identified, the station said, adding that police found the gas can nearby and obtained security images of the suspect carrying the gas can and a plastic bag.
You can view a video report here about the incident.
An "old man" who was caught on video keying a Tesla in San Jose, California, was arrested for his "act of felony vandalism."
The incident happened in a Costco parking lot between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. March 14, KRON-TV reported, citing the owner of the vandalized Tesla. The now-viral video shows a male with white hair and a white beard and wearing a USA jacket using a key to scratch the exterior of the Tesla vehicle.
A second video shows a similar-looking male wearing the same jacket getting confronted about the incident, and he denies involvement. The title of the pair of videos is "WATCH THIS: Old man who keyed Tesla in San Jose is confronted."
San Jose Police announced on the night of March 17 that "we successfully identified, located, and arrested the individual responsible for this act of felony vandalism."
You can view KRON's video report here about the incident.
A male was "under investigation" after allegedly keying a Tesla Cybertruck at ritzy mountain resort in New Hampshire in March.
The culprit was caught on video allegedly dragging a key across the vehicle outside the Omni Mountain Resort & Spa in Bretton Woods, Fox News reported.
You can view video here of the alleged vandalism.
The Tesla owner, Kerri Pouliot, told Fox News that she and her husband "were told at the time of the incident that they would be getting a warrant" for the male suspect's arrest.
Pouliot recorded a video when police arrived at the scene, and an officer can be heard asking, "Do you want to talk about what happened here?" the cable network reported.
The accused vandal snapped back, "No, I don’t know what happened," Fox News said.
Police then told the man that they "had him on video," after which the male replied, "I don't know what happened," the cable network noted.
Carroll Police Chief Tadd Bailey told the New Hampshire Union Leader that "the incident is under investigation by us and the Coos County Attorney’s Office," Fox News added.
Pouliot told the cable network that she and her husband have "no intentions of ever selling our truck." Omni Mountain Resort & Spa could not be reached for comment, Fox News said.
A couple in Eugene, Oregon, told KEZI-TV that they found their Tesla vehicles vandalized and spray-painted with the words “divest” and “depose" on the morning of March 20. The couple requested anonymity to protect their safety and added to the station that a camera on their property caught a person approaching the vehicles before dawn. They also said there has been a rise in people being aggressive to them on the road, KEZI reported.
“This is really unfortunate that someone feels they need to vandalize and cost somebody time and money,” one of the victims told the station. “I feel very violated. We’re regular people, we live and work in this community, we contribute to community service.”
The couple added to KEZI that while their vehicles are being repaired, they had to take them to Portland — a nearly two-hour drive — because their insurance company advised them to keep the Teslas away from Eugene. Still, despite the hassle and heartache, the couple told the station they’re happy with their Tesla vehicles and are planning to keep them.
You can view a video report here about the incident.
A federal grand jury charged a Salem, Oregon, male with arson after authorities accused him of throwing Molotov cocktails at a local Tesla dealership, the Salem Reporter said.
Adam M. Lansky, 41, now faces two charges of attempted arson in addition to an earlier charge of possession of an unregistered destructive device, the outlet said, citing an indictment filed in Portland U.S. District Court on March 18.
In the new federal case, Lansky is charged with unlawfully possessing a Molotov cocktail and two counts of attempted arson — one for the Tesla dealership building and the second for a Tesla vehicle, the Reporter said.
Lansky was arrested March 4 after a federal investigation linked him to the attempted arson on Jan. 20 and gunshots that destroyed windows on Feb. 19, according to a previous statement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the outlet added
More from the Reporter:
Surveillance footage from the dealership on the morning of the arson showed a man lighting around seven Molotov cocktails and throwing them at Tesla vehicles and the dealership. The man also threw a rock at the dealership’s windows, breaking the glass.
The incident caused around $500,000 in damage, including damaging seven Tesla cars, the complaint said.
Lansky is in custody at Yamhill County Jail, according to the county jail roster, and records show he's scheduled to appear in court April 3, the outlet reported. You can view a video report here on the case.
A male wearing all black torched at least five Tesla vehicles with Molotov cocktails and then shot at them just before 3 a.m. March 18, Las Vegas police said, adding that the incident took place at a Tesla Service Center on West Badura Avenue.
The word "resist" was also spray-painted in red onto the door of the service center. A photo on social media showed the vandalism.
Paul Hyon Kim, 36, appeared in court March 27 to face federal arson charges in connection with the incident, the Department of Justice said. Kim faces up to 20 years in prison on the arson charge alone; he also was charged with one count of unlawful possession of an unregistered firearm.
A 62-year-old male was charged with criminal damage for allegedly keying a Tesla vehicle last month in a Gilbert, Arizona, parking lot — and the incident was caught on the car's video system, KTVK-TV reported.
The Tesla owner, Shant Janesian, noticed the damage on his car, then viewed video recorded by his vehicle, the station said, adding that the culprit keyed his Tesla at SanTan Village.
Janesian filed a report with Gilbert Police, and in addition to viewing the Tesla video, investigators also used surveillance video from surrounding businesses prior to arresting David Moller, KTVK reported.
"Just because something that has nothing to do with me, and he’s just going around keying Teslas over certain political reasons, and it's just like, 'Dude, you don’t even know anything about me,'" Janesian told the station in the aftermath.
KTVK asked the victim what he would say to Moller, and Janesian replied, “Was it worth it? Like, was it worth it? Did you really get anything out of it? Did it really help your cause? Whatever you’re against, or ... was it just a dumb mistake?”
Janesian told the station he'll continue to drive his Tesla. You can view a video report here about the incident.
A video shows a male slamming a suitcase against a Model Y Tesla in a parking lot at Ontario International Airport in southern California, which caused $3,000 in damage.
The Daily Press report cited a March 19 post on X from Spotted Model: Cars & Tech which includes two videos and two still images related to the vandalism that allegedly took place at 9:25 p.m. March 2 in parking lot No. 3.
One video shows the male walking in the parking lot with a suitcase, and he suddenly slams the suitcase into the vehicle and then walks away.
"Although it’s dark, we have lots of detail here, including his suitcase, the logo on his shirt, and a pretty clear facial visual. Unfortunately, police have made little progress in identifying him," the post notes, adding that "in just about any other car, the owner would be out of luck. With Sentry Mode we’ve got a good chance of finding this guy with your help. On behalf of the owner and his family, thank you!"
The paper said airport and city officials have not yet responded to messages about the incident.
A man from Garner, North Carolina, told WRAL-TV his Tesla recently was vandalized.
The station on March 23 reported that the Tesla owner — who gave the station only his first name, Jeremy, since he feared for his safety — that someone etched the word “Nazi” into his Tesla.
“I was working from home, and my wife was out running some errands. [She] came home, and as she was coming in past the car, she saw the damage to it,” Jeremy told WRAL. “We immediately started reviewing the footage from the car because it does have Sentry Mode, but unfortunately we didn’t see anything.”
Jeremy told the station he's not sure when his Tesla was vandalized. He added to WRAL that police also found nothing while checking surveillance videos from stores he's visited.
“I bought this back in 2019 and paid it off a month ago,” he added to WRAL. “This was back in the time when Elon was just some guy tweeting about rocket motors and fast cars and wasn’t problematic at the time.”
A vandal was caught on surveillance video keying three Tesla vehicles last month outside a shopping plaza in Bradenton, Florida, WFLA-TV reported.
You can view a video report here about the incident, which took place in the parking lot of Pinebrook Commons and caused more than $7,000 in damages, police said.
“Two of the Tesla owners, father and son, they were just there enjoying dinner," Bradenton Police Department Public Information Officer Meredith Censullo told the station. "And then there was a third Tesla owner who was, you know, shopping or doing something within that plaza."
Censullo added to WFLA that "it would certainly appear like these cars were chosen because they were Tesla vehicles. At the end of the day, though, it is completely unacceptable to damage anyone’s car."
Tesla owner Russell Blackburn told the station he's concerned: “It has been on my brain, you know, going out to public places. So when I go out with people, I ask them, ‘Do you mind driving?’ Because I don’t want to leave my car unattended."
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LGBT activists' cultural imperialism may have reached its zenith during the Biden years when their "Progress Pride" flag was prominently displayed on the White House with American flags relegated to a secondary status on either side.
Now, with the country under different leadership, conservatives flexing more muscle legislatively, and key narratives crumbling, non-straight activists appear to be losing ground as signaled by legislation advanced in Utah and Idaho last week.
Months after the Trump administration announced that "only the United States of America flag is authorized to be flown or displayed at U.S. facilities, both domestic and abroad," Utah Republicans successfully passed legislation on Thursday banning the rainbow flag as well as other activist flags from all government buildings and schools.
Utah state Rep. Trevor Lee's (R) House Bill 77 prohibits state entities and employees from displaying a flag in or on the grounds of government property with a number of exceptions including Old Glory; an official Utah state flag; a historic version of the American or state flag; a municipal flag; a U.S. military flag; the National League of Families POW/MIA flag; a country flag; a tribal flag; an official university or public school flag; and an Olympic flag.
It appears that the only ways to lawfully get a rainbow flag into the classroom is to have it grafted onto an exempted flag, to accept the $500 fine for each day of noncompliance, to overturn the law, or to depict the flag by means other than an actual flag, such as on a lapel pin or a sticker, which activist groups routinely distribute to students.
The bill became law on Thursday without Republican Gov. Spencer Cox's signature.
"This was a no brainer bill to run," wrote Lee. "Tax payer funded entities shouldn't be promoting political agendas. This is a massive win for Utah."
'All this bill does is add more fuel to the fire.'
Cox, who vetoed six bills this year, indicated that he did not similarly veto HB 77 because Republicans would override him in the Utah House of Representatives, where they outnumber Democrats 61-14.
While acknowledging that the law "is neutral on the types of flags in question" — highlighting that MAGA flags are now similarly prohibited in schools and government buildings — Cox suggested that the ban was insufficient to eliminate "culture-war symbols in a place that should be apolitical," namely public schools.
"By simply requiring the removal of flags only, there is little preventing countless other displays — posters, signs, drawings, furniture — from entering the classroom," Cox wrote in a letter to state lawmakers, where he emphasized his love for the so-called LGBTQ community. "Furthermore, the bill is overly prescriptive on flags themselves. To those legislators who supported this bill, I'm sure it will not fix what you are trying to fix."
After suggesting that a better regulatory route for Republicans to depoliticize the classroom is the Utah State Board of Education, Cox claimed that "the bill goes too far when applied to local governments."
"All this bill does is add more fuel to the fire, and I suspect it will only ratchet up the creative use of political symbolism (for example: lighting used in place of flags)," added the governor.
'Fly flags that unite and don't divide.'
LGBT activists outside the state government similarly bemoaned the enactment of the flag law.
The Salt Lake City-based Utah Pride Center thanked Cox in a statement Friday, noting, "While we understand the complex political reality that this bill would likely have been passed regardless of the governor's decision, we are deeply saddened to see it move forward into law."
Troy Williams and Marina Lowe, the executive and policy directors of Equality Utah, said in a release that HB77 "sets a dangerous precedent."
Enraging a similar variety of activist, Idaho legislators passed legislation last week prohibiting government entities from flying flags besides the American flag and a handful of official flags, including those representing American military branches and government entities.
House Bill 96 passed the state House in landslide votes and now requires the signature of Republican Gov. Brad Little. Little signed a similar bill into law on March 19, which prohibits the display of unauthorized flags and banners that "promote political, religious, or ideological viewpoints" on public school property.
"The ultimate goal is for us to fly flags that unite and don't divide," said Idaho state Sen. Ben Toews (R), reported the Idaho Statesman.
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Last week was supposed to be one of the best weeks of my life.
When I told my friends why, they responded with a mix of disbelief and envy: “How did you pull that off?” “You hit the lottery!” “Can we trade places?”
At the time, they were busy cramming their kids’ belongings into as few bags as possible, all while trying to stay under the 50-pound airline limit. Spring break had arrived, and my friends were jetting off to various corners of the country to yell at their kids in unfamiliar settings.
The news I broke to them? I wouldn’t be joining the spring break chaos. Due to a poorly timed elbow surgery, I couldn’t travel. My wife would be taking our three kids — ages 10, 7, and 4 — to Utah for a ski trip without me.
So what’s a temporarily solo dad to do with a quiet house and only his beloved bulldog for company?
I had grand plans. Each day after work, I’d come home, change into sweats, and spend the rest of the evening doing what I love most — lighting up a cigar and diving into a good book. Better yet, I’d start two hours earlier than usual, reclaiming time normally lost to homework, sports, and bath time.
Losing the normal rhythm of my day made something very clear: Without my family around, my life had no order. And it’s that order that gives me purpose.
With my family returning the day before my 40th birthday, I saw this as my opportunity to live large for a week — maybe even earn a spot on a “40 under 40” list. But if I’m being honest, my real goal was simple: Do as little as humanly possible.
Still, some things had to get done.
I did three loads of laundry before realizing I hadn’t added detergent to any of them. For dinner each night, I drank a protein shake made of nothing but powder and water. (Apparently, my wife didn’t leave me any actual food.)
I hand-washed every cup, plate, and utensil I used — not because I wanted to, but because the dishwasher intimidates me more than anything else in our house.
It didn’t take long to realize that without my wife around, I function at the level of barely breathing.
But wow, was I free.
That night, the cigar lasted a little longer. My dog got to sleep in the bed. I even sent a few humblebrag texts to my friends.
Then came the next morning.
No waking to the soft sound of the shower running after my wife’s early workout. No stroll down the hallway belting out Travis Tritt’s “It’s a Great Day to Be Alive” to wake up the kids. No chance to embarrass my son by singing in the school drop-off line in front of the girls in his class.
When I walked back in the door that day and saw my daughter’s theater bag hanging in the mudroom, I would have done anything to sit in traffic and drive her to her Monday-night rehearsal — the same drive we always complain about.
But instead, there was nothing. Just that “freedom” I had been craving.
And in that moment, I realized I had it — freedom from the mundane routines of life. And I was miserable.
Losing the normal rhythm of my day made something very clear: Without my family around, my life had no order. And it’s that order that gives me purpose.
I was homesick at home.
It turns out this is completely normal. According to the General Social Survey — one of the most respected studies of American life — men and women with a spouse and children are the most likely to report being “very happy.” For men ages 18 to 55, marriage nearly doubles the likelihood of happiness compared to those who remain unmarried.
Andrew Tate’s followers might want to ask for a refund.
For me, the longing wasn’t just about missing companionship. I missed the “work” that comes with having a family. And according to Brad Wilcox of the Institute for Family Studies, that’s also typical.
But the benefits of that work extend beyond the home.
“It’s getting harder to ignore the data that show men fare better when they have the ‘positive pressure’ of caring for a family,” Wilcox writes. “Stable marriages don’t just benefit kids. ... The obligations of family life motivate men to work harder and smarter. Fathers literally make more money when they have kids.”
Something deeply rewarding comes with the responsibilities of marriage and fatherhood. I’ve gained a new appreciation for the frantic Sunday dash to church and the hours I’ve spent untying double knots.
And if Brad Wilcox is right, those cuddles might even be boosting my income.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox (R) signed new legislation on Wednesday that requires mobile app stores, including Apple and Google, to implement a user age verification process to protect children online.
The law, sponsored by Sen. Todd Weiler (R) and Rep. James Dunnigan (R), passed earlier this month. The bill takes effect on May 7.
'The apps are the first main gateway to how you protect children.'
Instead of age checks at app download, Utah's law mandates that app stores verify ages up front. The App Store Accountability Act, a first-of-its-kind law, requires providers to confirm users' age categories, secure parental consent for minors, and share that data with app developers. A minor may download or purchase an app or make in-app purchases only with consent from a linked parental account.
The act prohibits app stores from enforcing contracts against minors who did not receive parental consent or from "misrepresenting parental content disclosures."
Utah's Division of Consumer Protection has been tasked with establishing age verification standards.
Additionally, Utah's new legislation "creates a private right of action for parents of harmed minors," "provides a safe harbor for compliant developers," and "includes a severability clause."
The law permits parents to sue app providers that violate the act, claiming $1,000 per violation or actual damages.
Meta, X, and Snap Inc. issued a joint statement praising Utah's new legislation.
We applaud Governor Cox and the State of Utah for being the first in the nation to empower parents and users with greater control over teen app downloads, and urge other states to consider this groundbreaking approach. Parents want a one-stop-shop to oversee and approve the many apps their teens want to download, and Utah has led the way in centralizing it within a device's app store. This approach spares users from repeatedly submitting personal information to countless individual apps and online services. We are committed to safeguarding parents and teens, and look forward to seeing more states adopt this model.
A February report from the Wall Street Journal found that at least eight other states — Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Kentucky, New Mexico, South Carolina, South Dakota, and West Virginia — were considering similar legislation.
Terry Schilling, the president of the American Principles Project, told Blaze News that Utah's new bill is "a very strong law" and a "good first step."
Schilling outlined the major threats facing children online.
"You want to protect children anywhere where people can get access to them," Schilling explained. "The apps are the first main gateway to how you protect children. So that's why I think it's a really great first step."
"Then next, we've got to start protecting kids from porn online directly by forcing the porn companies to do age verification," he continued, noting that 20 states have already implemented this requirement. "You've got to start protecting children and doing age verification for social media accounts in general."
Schilling told Blaze News that he anticipates that other states will soon enforce legislation similar to Utah's to protect children online.
"There is a huge movement of people in America that want to protect kids online, and it's now being translated to the political class — to the politicians and their staff," he said. "That is so critical and important to actually getting things done. You can't just change the culture or people's hearts and minds; you've actually got to legislate it."
Apple and Google did not respond to a request for comment from Business Insider.
Both have previously expressed privacy concerns regarding age verification laws for app stores.
Last month, Apple stated that “the right place to address the dangers of age-restricted content online is the limited set of websites and apps that host that kind of content.”
On March 12, Google’s director of public policy, Kareem Ghanem, stated, “These proposals introduce new risks to the privacy of minors, without actually addressing the harms that are inspiring lawmakers to act. Google is proposing a more comprehensive legislative framework that shares responsibility between app stores and developers and protects children’s privacy and the decision rights of parents.”
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Some Republican lawmakers in Texas are attempting to bring the disruptive furry trend to heel in the state's public schools, compelling students to engage in human behaviors — including learning.
On March 13, state Rep. Stan Gerdes (R-Smithville) introduced the Forbidden Unlawful Representation of Roleplaying in Education Act, or the FURRIES Act for short. Furries are people who identify as animals, wear animal-like apparel, and mimic animal behaviors.
Last April, Blaze News provided exclusive photos and videos demonstrating that furries had become a major problem at Mt. Nebo Middle School in Payson, Utah. Though Nebo School District repeatedly denied the furry issue initially, after the reporting from Blaze News, the district reversed course slightly and pledged to address all issues of "harassment" going forward.
'I can't believe we have to do this.'
Groups of furries have reportedly appeared in schools across the country. But Gerdes hopes to force the furry trend in Texas to go into permanent hibernation.
"I can't believe we have to do this, but we cannot allow these types of roleplaying distractions to affect our students who are trying to learn or our teachers and administrators who are trying to teach," Gerdes said in a statement. "We just have to keep this nonsense out of our schools, period."
The behaviors that the FURRIES Act would prohibit are indeed "nonsense." Under the FURRIES Act, students cannot: wear leashes, collars, or other apparel designed for pets; make animal noises like hissing, meowing, or barking; lick themselves for grooming purposes; or use litter boxes to relieve themselves.
Critics have fixated on the litter box component, claiming that reports of furries using litter boxes in school restrooms have all been debunked. Even a community note on Gerdes' X post derided the reports as "sensationalist" and suggested that furries are basically harmless. Citing Wikipedia, the community note described furries as "fans of anthropomorphic animal characters," not bullies who have caused major disruptions at schools.
But furries have caused significant problems. Non-furry students at Mt. Nebo Middle School were so fed up with the constant harassment a year ago that they staged a walkout despite looming threats of suspension. In one video of a group of furries shared by Blaze News, a student even brags about spraying someone with chemicals "in the f***ing eyes."
— (@)
The FURRIES Act does carve out exceptions for some animal cosplaying, including on special occasions like Halloween and for school-related characters like mascots or those in theatrical performances. Gerdes called these exceptions "practical and obvious." Overall, he said, these figures should not be regular features in Texas classrooms.
"No distractions. No theatrics. Just education," he said on X.
'If they’re being distracted by furries, those parents have a right to move their child to a school of their choice.'
Gerdes claimed that the bill has the support of Gov. Greg Abbott and Speaker Dustin Burrows, both Republicans. Burrows has even signaled that the bill is a high "priority" for the Texas House, Gerdes continued, though no hearing for it has yet been scheduled.
Abbott has already publicly backed the bill and even used the furry problem to advocate for school choice. "In some small rural sections of school districts in the state of Texas, they have in their schools, what are called furries. Y’all know what this is," Abbott recently told a group of pastors in Austin, according to the Dallas Morning News.
"If you have a child in a public school, you have one expectation: Your children’s going to be learning the fundamentals of education — reading and writing and math and science," Abbott added. "If they’re being distracted by furries, those parents have a right to move their child to a school of their choice."
The bill would require educators to report instances of furries to the state attorney general or face fines. Students caught in violation could be removed from class, suspended, or even expelled.
Gerdes anticipates that the bill will incite ferocious opposition from the left. However, any protesters who show up to the state capitol to oppose the FURRIES Act won't be provided "litter boxes" to relieve themselves, he joked.
"They'll have to use the regular restrooms like the humans they are."
Eric Moutsos — a former Utah police officer turned independent media member who covered the furry issue in Payson on X extensively — is thrilled that Texas is taking the furry threat seriously. He also believes that the overall school furry trend, which may have originated from a sexual fetish, is the direct result of changes in laws regarding marriage and gender.
"Over a decade ago, many of us warned that permitting the government to try and redefine marriage would unleash a Pandora's box, paving the way for any conceivable evil notion to take root," Moutsos told Blaze News. "Today, we now see gender rendered irrelevant and children in our public schools identifying as 'furries.' It turns out truth isn't relative and facts do matter, and it’s lamentable that we find ourselves needing laws to halt what should never have been set in motion to begin with, but here we are."
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The D.C. Circuit is essentially the judicial branch version of 'trust the experts,' the only difference being that these judges do not actually have any expert knowledge that makes them more equipped to decide court cases.
Utah's legislature and governor laid groundwork for major higher education improvements that give Florida a run for its money.
thefederalist.com