'I wasn't surprised': Neighbors of suspected arsonist speak on arrest (2025)

FIND OUT ABOUT HIS ARREST. I WAS JUST LIKE, WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON? NEIGHBORS LEFT IN SHOCK. I’VE BEEN HERE 20 SOME YEARS AND NEVER SEEN NOTHING LIKE THAT. AND JUST DAYS AFTER FBI AND ATF AGENTS EXECUTED A SEARCH WARRANT AT JAMISON WAGNER’S HOME. WOKE ME UP. WE HEARD A BIG BANG, AND WE CAME OUT HERE. ME AND MY WIFE. NEIGHBORS. DESCRIBING WAGNER AS A MAN WHO OFTEN KEPT TO HIMSELF. IT’S OKAY TO HAVE A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION, BUT I DON’T THINK IT NEEDS TO ESCALATE TO THIS. WAGNER, NOW IN FEDERAL CUSTODY AFTER BEING CHARGED WITH ARSON ATTACKS. WE’RE TRYING TO SEE WAS THERE A CONNECTION WITH THESE OTHER INVESTIGATIONS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN OTHER STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, OR IS THIS MORE OF A COPYCAT? THE LATEST REPUBLICAN PARTY OF NEW MEXICO HEADQUARTERS, TARGETED IN WHAT THEY CALLED A DELIBERATE ACT OF ARSON IN MARCH. THIS IS NOT HOW DEMOCRACY WORKS. NO ONE HAS THE RIGHT TO THREATEN, INTIMIDATE OR ATTACK OTHERS BECAUSE OF THEIR BELIEFS. IN FEBRUARY, A SCORCHED, BURNT GRAY TESLA DESTROYED AT THIS TESLA ALBUQUERQUE SHOWROOM IN BERNALILLO FOUND ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE THAT LED US TO BELIEVE THAT THIS WAS A PERSON THAT IS SUSPECTED AT BOTH OF THESE SITES. HOWEVER, ELIJAH GARCIA, WHO LIVES NEXT DOOR TO HIM, TELLING US IT WAS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME. I REALLY WASN’T THAT SURPRISED. HONESTLY, AFTER HE SAW ME IN MY TRAINING GEAR, NOT EVEN AN HOUR LATER, THERE WERE SKELETONS HANGING IN THE TREE. HE HAD PAINTED SWASTIKAS ON THEM. BULLET HOLES IN THE HEAD. AND THEN HE POSTED A SIGN RIGHT HERE ON HIS. AS SOON AS I WALK OUT OF THE FRONT DOOR OF THE GARAGE, WHERE I CAN CLEARLY SEE IT, WHERE I’D HAVE TO LOOK AT THE PICTURE. BUT ESSENTIALLY IT WAS ONCE IT WAS PATRIOTIC. NOW IT’S A CRIME. DEATH TO NAZI SWINE. BETTER BELIEVE I WAS PREPARED FOR ANYTHING. I’M GOING TO DO WHAT IT TAKES TO

'I wasn't surprised': Neighbors of suspected arsonist speak on arrest

'There were skeletons hanging in the tree. He had painted swastikas on them, bullet holes in the head. Then, he posted a sign right on the wall,' Elijah Garcia said

Faith Egbuonu

Reporter

On Tuesday, April 15, 2025, KOAT spoke with Jamison Wagner's neighbors. The U.S. Department of Justice announced federal charges against the Albuquerque resident on Monday, April 14, 2025. According to the FBI, Wagner, 40, is suspected of recent arson attacks targeted toward an Albuquerque Tesla showroom on Feb. 9, 2025, as well as the Republican Party of New Mexico headquarters on March 30, 2025.MORE: 'Domestic Terrorism': FBI speaks on arrest tied to Tesla, New Mexico GOP headquartersNeighbors described Wagner as one who often kept to himself. Elijah Garcia resides next door to Wagner. He told KOAT he wasn't surprised following Wagner's arrest in connection to the Tesla and Republican Party of New Mexico fires. "When I first moved in, obviously, you see each other going in and out of your houses. It wasn't until October time; I was coming home from a training day, and I was in uniform. Ever since then, it was glares," Elijah Garcia told KOAT. "So, I knew there was kind of something. I understand the difference in political views. I try not to get into it too much, but obviously, there was a difference. I didn't try to cause any problems. We didn't really talk to each other," Garcia added.Related: Arson suspect faces up to 40 years after Tesla, New Mexico GOP Headquarters incidents"It did get to a point where October time, after he saw me in my training gear, not even an hour later there were skeletons hanging in the tree. He had painted swastikas on them, bullet holes in the head. Then he posted a sign right here on this wall. So, as soon as I walk out of the front door of the garage where I can clearly see it—but essentially, 'once it was patriotic, now it's a crime, death to Nazi swine,' Garcia said."Better believe I was prepared for anything that would happen. I'm going to do what it takes to protect myself, protect my family, protect my home," Garcia told KOAT.Esteban Rodriguez resides a couple of houses down from Wagner. He told KOAT he and his wife were inside when FBI and ATF agents executed a search warrant at Wagner's home on Saturday morning, April 12, 2025."I was like, 'What the heck is going on?' It woke me up. I just came back from work, went to bed about 3, woke up about 6 o'clock in the morning. We heard a big bang, and we came out here, me and my wife, and then we see all the cops and FBI and ATF was here. I've been here 20 some years living in this house and never seen anything like that," Rodriguez told KOAT.Video Below: RPNM Chairwoman Amy Barela speaks on arrestDemocratic Party of New Mexico Statement "The Democratic Party of New Mexico is grateful to law enforcement for capturing and charging a suspect for recent arson and vandalism at the Tesla showroom in Bernalillo and the Republican Party of New Mexico office. Should this individual be found guilty, we hope the U.S. Department of Justice holds them accountable. Politically motivated violence and vandalism are never acceptable." — Daniel Garcia, spokespersonWagner's Charges According to the FBI, Wagner is charged with two counts of malicious damage or destruction of property by fire or explosives and will remain in custody pending a detention hearing which has not been set. Wagner faces 5 to 20 years for each count. According to court documents, Wagner is scheduled to be in federal court on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. This is a developing story and will be updated as information becomes available. Stay updated on the latest news with the KOAT app. Download it here.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —

MORE: 'Domestic Terrorism': FBI speaks on arrest tied to Tesla, New Mexico GOP headquarters

Neighbors described Wagner as one who often kept to himself. Elijah Garcia resides next door to Wagner. He told KOAT he wasn't surprised following Wagner's arrest in connection to the Tesla and Republican Party of New Mexico fires.

"When I first moved in, obviously, you see each other going in and out of your houses. It wasn't until October time; I was coming home from a training day, and I was in uniform. Ever since then, it was glares," Elijah Garcia told KOAT.

"So, I knew there was kind of something. I understand the difference in political views. I try not to get into it too much, but obviously, there was a difference. I didn't try to cause any problems. We didn't really talk to each other," Garcia added.

Related: Arson suspect faces up to 40 years after Tesla, New Mexico GOP Headquarters incidents

Elijah Garcia

"It did get to a point where October time, after he saw me in my training gear, not even an hour later there were skeletons hanging in the tree. He had painted swastikas on them, bullet holes in the head. Then he posted a sign right here on this wall. So, as soon as I walk out of the front door of the garage where I can clearly see it—but essentially, 'once it was patriotic, now it's a crime, death to Nazi swine,' Garcia said.

Elijah Garcia

"Better believe I was prepared for anything that would happen. I'm going to do what it takes to protect myself, protect my family, protect my home," Garcia told KOAT.

Esteban Rodriguez resides a couple of houses down from Wagner. He told KOAT he and his wife were inside when FBI and ATF agents executed a search warrant at Wagner's home on Saturday morning, April 12, 2025.

"I was like, 'What the heck is going on?' It woke me up. I just came back from work, went to bed about 3, woke up about 6 o'clock in the morning. We heard a big bang, and we came out here, me and my wife, and then we see all the cops and FBI and ATF was here. I've been here 20 some years living in this house and never seen anything like that," Rodriguez told KOAT.

Video Below: RPNM Chairwoman Amy Barela speaks on arrest

Democratic Party of New Mexico Statement

"The Democratic Party of New Mexico is grateful to law enforcement for capturing and charging a suspect for recent arson and vandalism at the Tesla showroom in Bernalillo and the Republican Party of New Mexico office. Should this individual be found guilty, we hope the U.S. Department of Justice holds them accountable. Politically motivated violence and vandalism are never acceptable." — Daniel Garcia, spokesperson

Wagner's Charges

According to the FBI, Wagner is charged with two counts of malicious damage or destruction of property by fire or explosives and will remain in custody pending a detention hearing which has not been set. Wagner faces 5 to 20 years for each count. According to court documents, Wagner is scheduled to be in federal court on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.

This is a developing story and will be updated as information becomes available. Stay updated on the latest news with the KOAT app. Download it here.