Victor Divergilio, 83, scratched five Tesla vehicles in an alleged fit of rage against Elon Musk and Donald Trump. The incident occurred at the Roosevelt Field Mall in Long Island, New York.
Victor Divergilio was charged with criminal mischief after scratching five Tesla cars on Sunday (20) at the Roosevelt Field Mall in Long Island, New York. The 83-year-old man made threats against Trump and Elon Musk after the incident.
According to detectives working on the case, Divergilio was furious and said that Musk, Tesla’s CEO, “should die,” as well as President Donald Trump.
On Wednesday (23), he told the New York Post that it was all just a misunderstanding.
“If I was going to do something to him, it wouldn’t just be scratching the cars,” he told the newspaper. He also mentioned that he doesn’t like the billionaire.
According to authorities, he caused $23,000 in damage to the vehicles. He allegedly used a key to scratch the bodywork of the Teslas. Divergilio denied scratching the cars after seeing police surveillance footage.
During the hearing, the judge ordered that he undergo a mental health evaluation.
“I didn’t do what they said. I spent a horrible night in jail like I was a criminal,” he said. The 83-year-old man reported that he got off a bus carrying shopping bags and keys because he tends to lose them while walking home.
Victor Divergilio identified himself as a Vietnam War veteran and claimed to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder. He is scheduled to return to court on April 30.
Photos: Instagram @nassaucountypd X @tesla. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
