Suspect Identified in Las Vegas Explosion
Law enforcement officials revealed new findings in the investigation of a New Year’s Day explosion in Las Vegas. Sheriff Kevin McMahill of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department confirmed Thursday that the man believed to be behind the Tesla Cybertruck detonation in front of the Trump International Hotel had sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound moments before the explosion.
🚨EVERYTHING we know about Matthew Livelsberger, the suspect in the Las Vegas Cybertruck explosion near Trump Tower:
– A 37-year-old Army veteran with 19 years of service in Special Forces and Intelligence.
– Found deceased inside the Tesla Cybertruck he rented, reportedly… pic.twitter.com/KMjCNOXcVb
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) January 2, 2025
The incident, which injured seven people, is now part of an ongoing FBI investigation to determine possible motives or connections to other acts of violence.
Key Discoveries at the Scene
During a press conference, Sheriff McMahill disclosed that the truck’s interior yielded critical evidence, including military identification, firearms, fireworks, and electronic devices such as a smartphone and smartwatch. Though the body inside the vehicle was severely burned, authorities suspect it belongs to Matthew Alan Livelsberger, a former U.S. Army Green Beret. However, DNA or medical confirmation is pending.
Further searches led the FBI to a residence in Colorado Springs associated with Livelsberger. Agents from multiple agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, assisted in the investigation.
Details of the Incident
Authorities revealed that Livelsberger rented the Tesla Cybertruck via a car-sharing app in Colorado and drove it to Las Vegas. On New Year’s Day at approximately 8:40 a.m., the vehicle, loaded with fireworks and fuel canisters, detonated outside the hotel. Initial reports suggested the explosion caused minor injuries to bystanders.
New evidence now indicates Livelsberger shot himself in the head shortly before the detonation, adding another layer of complexity to the case.
Military History
Livelsberger, 37, served with distinction during his 18-year military career. As a Green Beret communications specialist, he completed missions in Afghanistan, Ukraine, and other international locations. The U.S. Army confirmed his decorated service, which included two Bronze Stars and other honors.
Despite his extensive military background, authorities are probing whether Livelsberger’s actions stemmed from personal, ideological, or psychological factors.
Investigators are exploring parallels between Livelsberger’s actions and a separate New Orleans attack on the same day. In New Orleans, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, another U.S. Army veteran, drove a truck into a crowd, resulting in multiple fatalities. Both men had military ties and utilized the Turo app to rent vehicles used in their respective attacks.
However, the FBI stated there is “no definitive link” between the two incidents. While both men had served at Fort Bragg, their assignments reportedly did not overlap.
The FBI is assessing whether either incident constitutes an act of terrorism. Meanwhile, Turo emphasized that neither suspect’s background would have raised red flags during the vehicle rental process.
As investigations continue, these events highlight the challenges of identifying potential threats and underscore the complexities involved in probing violent incidents with potential links to military and ideological motivations.
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