Matthew Livelsberger, 37, a Green Berets soldier, reportedly died by suicide in a rented Tesla Cybertruck filled with fuel containers and fireworks before it exploded outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas.
According to official authorities, they found Livelsberger with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head inside the vehicle, which subsequently caught fire.
Officials identified Livelsberger through his military ID, passport, and credit cards found at the scene. Las Vegas Sheriff Kevin McMahill expressed high confidence that Livelsberger was alone in the vehicle. The FBI, along with other agencies, is still investigating the motivation behind his actions, noting the absence of any links to terrorist organizations.
The Cybertruck, purchased in Colorado on December 28, was tracked travelling through Arizona and New Mexico, arriving in Las Vegas on January 1. Livelsberger, stationed in Germany and on approved leave, had served in Afghanistan in 2009 and received several Bronze Star Medals, including one for valour.
Read: Tesla Cybertruck Explosion at Trump Hotel Las Vegas Kills One
Investigators noted that while the explosion involved consumer products like fireworks and fuel, some components did not detonate, and the overall sophistication of the blast did not align with Livelsberger’s military expertise. “I just don’t think it was done as well as he was expecting it to be done,” McMahill remarked.
This incident occurred hours after a deadly attack in New Orleans, where a truck drove into a crowd, killing at least 14. Although initial investigations considered potential connections between the two events, authorities now view the Las Vegas explosion as isolated, with no ties to the attack in New Orleans.
