A peaceful demonstration against Tesla turned violent when a man drove his SUV into a group of elderly protesters in West Palm Beach, Florida.
According to Mediaite, Andrew Dutil, who claimed to be a Tesla showroom employee, was arrested after driving his Nissan Pathfinder onto the sidewalk where approximately 100 protesters had gathered on Saturday.
The incident occurred during a demonstration organized by Tesla Takedown, a group protesting CEO Elon Musk's support for President Donald Trump and recent company decisions. Local law enforcement confirmed that while no injuries were reported, two elderly women narrowly escaped being struck by the vehicle. The protest took place near Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence, where demonstrators, many of them seniors, carried American flags.
Mark Offerman of the Democratic Progressive Caucus Palm Beach County witnessed the frightening moment. He stated:
He drove into a crowd of senior citizens. Everybody was able to move out, but two older women were really almost clipped. We immediately called the cops.
The suspect slowly drove his black SUV onto the sidewalk, forcing protesters to scatter before coming to a stop and exiting the vehicle. Court records show that Dutil now faces assault charges for his actions during the demonstration.
Local news crews were present during portions of the protest, capturing footage of the predominantly senior crowd before the incident occurred. The demonstration was one of several recent protests targeting Tesla locations across the country.
The FBI issued a public safety warning over the weekend in response to increasing protests, acts of vandalism, and violence directed at Tesla locations and individual vehicle owners. These incidents have escalated following Musk's public support for Trump and recent corporate decisions involving DOGE.
Tesla Takedown representatives have remained defiant despite the attack. One member took to social media to declare their intention to continue protesting, stating that intimidation tactics would not silence their movement.
The incident highlights growing political tensions surrounding Tesla and its CEO's alignment with Trump. The Palm Beach Post conducted interviews with protesters about their motivations and concerns regarding both Musk and Trump's influence on the company.
Police responded swiftly to the scene after receiving multiple emergency calls from witnesses. The suspect's claim of employment at the Tesla showroom is being investigated as part of the ongoing case.
Local authorities are working with the FBI to determine if the incident is connected to other reported acts of violence against Tesla properties and owners. The investigation comes amid heightened security concerns in the area due to its proximity to Mar-a-Lago.
Security measures around Tesla locations have been increased following the FBI's warning about potential threats. Law enforcement officials are coordinating with private security teams to prevent similar incidents.
The attacker drove his SUV into a group of Tesla protesters in West Palm Beach, Florida, near Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence. Andrew Dutil, who claimed to be a Tesla showroom employee, was arrested and charged with assault after allegedly targeting the elderly demonstrators with his vehicle. While no injuries were reported, the incident has intensified concerns about escalating violence surrounding Tesla protests, prompting increased security measures and ongoing investigations by local law enforcement and the FBI.
