A Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, killing one person and injuring seven others.
Authorities have identified the victim as Matthew Alan Livelsberger, a 37-year-old master sergeant in the US Army’s elite special forces unit.
Livelsberger, a resident of Colorado Springs, had rented the Cybertruck through the online platform Turo. According to Clark County/Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Sheriff Kevin McMahill, identification belonging to Livelsberger was found at the scene, including a military ID, passport, and credit cards.
The investigation revealed that Livelsberger had lawfully purchased two handguns, a .50-caliber Desert Eagle and a semiautomatic pistol, on December 30. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) traced the guns back to Livelsberger and are still investigating the explosive device used in the incident.
McMahill stated that the body recovered from the Cybertruck sustained an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. “We don’t believe there’s any further threat or anyone associated with him in Las Vegas,” McMahill said, addressing speculation surrounding Livelsberger’s background.
Livelsberger’s military career spanned over a decade, with deployments to various countries, including the Republic of Congo, Ukraine, Tajikistan, and Afghanistan.
He was a Green Beret candidate and had received multiple Bronze Star medals for his service.
The incident is being investigated as a possible terrorist attack, although authorities have not found any definitive link between this incident and another attack in New Orleans, which occurred just hours apart.
Chris Raia, deputy assistant director of the FBI’s counterterrorism division, stated, “At this point, there is no definitive link between the attack here in New Orleans and the one in Las Vegas.”
Tesla CEO Elon Musk assisted investigators in tracking the route of the vehicle and provided video footage showing the Cybertruck at Tesla charging stations. Musk clarified that the explosion was caused by “very large fireworks and/or a bomb carried in the bed of the rented Cybertruck” and was unrelated to the vehicle itself.
The Trump Organization expressed gratitude to local law enforcement for their swift response. Eric Trump stated, “The safety and well-being of our guests and staff remain our top priority.”
