Las Vegas, NV – The driver of the Tesla Cybertruck that exploded outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas has been identified as Matthew Alan Livelsberger, a 37-year-old active-duty US Army Green Beret, according to law enforcement sources familiar with the ongoing investigation.
Livelsberger served as an Army Special Forces operations master sergeant in the 10th Special Forces Group, stationed in Germany, but was on leave at the time of the incident which occurred on New Year’s Day. The US Army confirmed his leave status but did not specify his death in connection with the explosion.
At a news conference, Las Vegas Sheriff Kevin McMahill revealed that Livelsberger shot himself before the vehicle detonated, causing minor injuries to seven bystanders. Although initially referred to as the “subject” or “person of interest,” McMahill later confirmed the identity by displaying a photo of Livelsberger.
Due to severe burns on the body, identification has not been officially confirmed. “I will not come back until I have the confirmation through DNA or medical records that this is indeed, in fact, the subject inside of the vehicle,” McMahill stated, adding that confidence in the identification stems from matching tattoos recognized by Livelsberger’s wife.
FBI special agent Spencer Evans mentioned that the motive behind the incident remains unknown, with no current evidence linking Livelsberger to any terrorist organizations.
The explosion shares some similarities with a separate vehicle attack in New Orleans earlier on the same day, both involving rented vehicles from Turo and military backgrounds of the suspects. However, FBI deputy assistant director Christopher Raia clarified, “At this point, there is no definitive link between the attack here in New Orleans and the one in Las Vegas.”
Investigations are also extending to a home in Colorado Springs, where law enforcement from various agencies, including the FBI in Denver and the ATF, are conducting activities related to this case.
Incident Timeline:
- The Cybertruck was rented on December 28 in Denver, making stops at Tesla charging stations through Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Nevada.
- It entered Las Vegas at 7:29 a.m. on New Year’s Day, circling Las Vegas Boulevard before stopping at the Trump Hotel.
- The vehicle, packed with fireworks, gas tanks, and camping fuel, was detonated by a device controlled by the driver, as captured by CCTV and shared on social media.
Police are still attempting to access internal camera footage from the Cybertruck to further understand the events leading up to the explosion.
