On Thursday, January 2, the U.S. authorities confirmed that a suspect in the explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck in front of the Trump Tower in Las Vegas on January 1 was an active-duty Army Special Forces soldier who died by hitting his own head before the explosion.
The only victim in the explosion was identified as 37-year-old Matthew Alan Livelsberger, an active-duty U.S. Army Special Forces intelligence sergeant who had been on vacation since January 1.
The FBI and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department are conducting further investigations into the explosion case. Sheriff Kevin McMahill revealed during a press conference on Thursday that they are exploring all possibilities, and current evidence suggests it was not an act of terrorism but rather an accidental fire caused by the vehicle battery.
“I can confirm this was a suicide followed by an explosion,” stated Sheriff McMahill.
Authorities confirmed the suspect’s identity through vehicle rental information, military ID found at the scene, and forensic evidence. The suspect was described as being “extensively burned.” Investigators are awaiting DNA or medical records to confirm the body’s identity.
Officials also reported finding a passport, credit cards, an iPhone, an iWatch, and two handguns, including a .50 caliber Desert Eagle semi-automatic pistol.
An Army spokesperson stated that Livelsberger was on vacation and assigned to the U.S. Army Special Operations Command. He joined the active-duty Army in December 2012 after serving in the National Guard and Army Reserve, becoming a Green Beret candidate.
Three law enforcement officers indicated that the incident is being investigated as a potential terrorist attack, although the suspect’s motive has not been determined.
The Cybertruck involved in the incident was rented through the car-sharing service Turo. The vehicle arrived in Las Vegas around 7:30 am on January 1 from its rental location in Colorado.
There were no signs indicating that any explosive device was inside the truck, and the explosion may have been related to a battery system malfunction.
Sheriff McMahill explained that the sounds heard (some mistaken for fireworks or a secondary explosion) were likely the result of the battery overheating. This process can cause individual cells within the battery to overheat and explode, creating significant noise and pressure.
Tesla, the company that produces the Cybertruck, is cooperating with the authorities’ investigation.
Authorities urge the community to remain vigilant but not panic. They also encourage anyone with information or who witnessed any unusual activities during the incident to come forward.
Despite similarities between the Las Vegas explosion and the New Orleans terror attack in terms of timing and car rental services, authorities confirmed that there is no clear connection between the two incidents.
To address this event, security measures have been enhanced around Trump properties nationwide, with additional precautions taken at the Trump Tower in Las Vegas.
President Biden, through a press conference on Thursday, mentioned that there is no evidence linking the New Orleans incident with the Las Vegas incident. He has been briefed on the latest information by the Homeland Security team.
Biden stated, “So far… they have not found any evidence of such a connection.” He added that he has directed the team to continue to search for any potential links.