A 42-year-old transgender woman, Lucy Grace Nelson, also known as Justin Thomas Nelson, has been charged [1] with federal crimes after allegedly attacking a Tesla dealership in Loveland, Colorado, with Molotov cocktails and vandalizing vehicles with graffiti.
A transgender has been arrested for firebombing a Tesla storefront in Colorado. This man goes by the name Lucy Grace Nelson.
Throw the book at this terrorist.
FAFO. pic.twitter.com/shYVeaPFBs [2]
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) March 12, 2025 [3]
Nelson, who was arrested on February 24, has been released on a $100,000 cash bond and faces a federal charge of malicious destruction.
According to Loveland Police, the dealership was targeted multiple times between late January and Nelson’s arrest in February.
Officers stated that at least four Tesla vehicles, worth approximately $220,000, were hit with homemade incendiary devices made from liquor bottles filled with gasoline and cloth wicks.
Surveillance images from the scene allegedly show Nelson throwing the devices across the dealership lot.
Authorities also reported discovering spray paint cans, gasoline, empty bottles, and accelerant-soaked cloth inside Nelson’s vehicle at the time of the arrest.
Police stated that Nelson had returned to the dealership with additional incendiary materials before being apprehended.
Loveland Police Department spokesman Chris Padgett pushed back against claims that the devices were merely fireworks or bottle rockets.
“I know that there’s been some rumors that it was just fireworks and bottle rockets and that is not the case. That is not true,” Padgett told Nexstar’s KDVR.
“The devices that were discovered had potential for serious damage.”
According to arrest documents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), graffiti was spray-painted on dealership signs and vehicles, including Tesla Cybertrucks.
One of the signs was tagged with the word “Nazi.”
In another instance, police say Nelson scrawled an expletive about Tesla CEO Elon Musk on the dealership’s windows.
Musk, who has been a frequent target of criticism, was previously accused of antisemitism by left-wing groups.
Nelson’s father, 82-year-old Claiborne “Jerry” Nelson, confirmed to The New York Post that his child changed names a few years ago and has struggled to hold a job.
“He changed his name to Lucy a few years ago,” Claiborne said.
“He’s in his early 40s but has been living with his mother who has been taking care of him. He has emotional problems. He hasn’t been able to keep a job.”
A 42-year-old transgender woman who allegedly threw Molotov cocktails at vehicles and spray-painted “Nazi cars” at a Colorado Tesla dealership lives with her mother due to “emotional problems” and calls herself “baby” online.
Lucy Grace Nelson, also known as Justin Thomas… pic.twitter.com/ucOIoLPWQz [4]
— News News News (@NewsNew97351204) March 14, 2025 [5]
Claiborne added that their family has long supported the Democratic Party but denied knowing whether Nelson was politically radical.
“We have good reason not to like our president,” he said.
“[Nelson’s] not for the president or Elon Musk, but anything beyond that I don’t know. He has no history of being radical in any way.”
A police affidavit includes screenshots from Nelson’s Facebook page that provide insight into her online presence.
One image shows a burning Nazi flag, while another features Nelson wearing a hood and face mask.
Nelson also posted about transitioning on social media, sharing images captioned “baby got her first bra” and “baby got her first dress.”
Between the attempted bombing of the Tesla store in Loveland, Colo. and the firebombing and shooting of the Tesla in Salem, Ore., both apprehended suspects are trantifa activists: Justin Thomas Nelson aka “Lucy Grace Nelson” and Adam Matthew Lansky aka “Allison Tesla.”
This… https://t.co/eLPs4KYm8f [6] pic.twitter.com/3xKHY4cmpq [7]
— Andy Ngo (@MrAndyNgo) March 10, 2025 [8]
A Reddit account in Nelson’s full name, which has since been suspended, was found to have posted in October 2023, “all bigots should be killed,” adding, “morally speaking, that is… don’t actually because going to prison sucks.”
The attacks on the Tesla dealership come amid a broader movement called #TeslaTakedown, which urges shareholders to divest from Tesla and car owners to sell their vehicles in response to Musk’s role in President Donald Trump’s administration.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi warned those attacking Tesla dealerships, including funders, of severe consequences, as one alleged attacker, Lucy Grace Nelson, faces up to 20 years in prison for vandalism & planting incendiary devices at a Tesla dealership in Loveland, Colorado. pic.twitter.com/xPFj631Yw8 [9]
— Mr 𝕏 (@MrMakiri) March 14, 2025 [10]
Musk has been heading Trump’s cost-cutting task force, DOGE, which has eliminated more than 62,000 federal jobs since January.
Actor Alex Winter, known for his role in Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, has been a vocal supporter of #TeslaTakedown and has written op-eds in Rolling Stone encouraging protests at Tesla dealerships.
However, he has not publicly called for violence.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, President Trump condemned the violence against Tesla properties and vowed to take action.
“They’re harming a great American company,” Trump said.
“Going forward, we will deem violence against Tesla facilities as domestic terrorism.”
The federal investigation into Nelson’s actions remains ongoing.