Tesla Explosion: Man Who Drove Cybertruck Was Elite Soldier, Shot Self Dead Before Blast
Police are certain that the Las Vegas explosion is not related to the New Orleans attack, though they have found some parallels between the two suspects.
Las Vegas authorities have revealed the identity of the deceased person inside the Tesla Cybertruck which exploded outside the Trump Hotel in the Nevada city. The man is said to be an active-duty US special forces soldier and before the blast, he had shot himself dead.
According to a BBC report, the police have identified Matthew Livelsberger, 37, who hailed from Colorado Springs, Colorado, as the driver of the vehicle. Livelsberger's cause of death was suicide from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to the Clark County Coroner's office.
Seven people received minor injuries when the vehicle – filled with fuel canisters and firework mortars – exploded on New Year's Day.
On Wednesday morning, Livelsberger drove the vehicle to Las Vegas, less than two hours before the vehicle detonated. He parked in front of the hotel’s glass entrance, the vehicle started to smoke, and then exploded.
The Las Vegas Authorities said that the Cybertruck, helped contain the explosion, sending it vertical rather than outward. The glass and doors of the Trump Hotel did not shatter due to the blast. Authorities said they have yet to determine any motive behind the incident.
"I'm comfortable calling it a suicide with a bombing that occurred immediately after," Sheriff McMahill said during Thursday's press conference, according to the BBC.
He said that investigators recovered a military ID, a passport, two semi-automatic pistols, fireworks, an iPhone, a smartwatch and several credit cards in Livelsberger's name from the charred vehicle. Sheriff McMahill said that the body inside the vehicle was charred beyond recognition, however, investigators found a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head and two tattoos on the driver's remains matching the ones Livelsberger’s had.
Livelsberger had rented the Cybertruck on December 28 in Denver, police used photographs to track his drive from Denver, Colorado to Las Vegas, Nevada. He was the only one in the driver’s seat at all times.
Tesla chief Elon Musk claimed the explosion was linked to the attack in New Orleans that killed 15 people. McMahill said that there are several parallels between the New Orleans attack that left 14 dead there isn’t a definitive link.
Both suspects served at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, though there is no record they served in same unit or were there at the same time. They also both served in Afghanistan in 2009, but there is no evidence they were in the same region or unit.
Both suspects had previously served at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, though records indicate that the did not serve in same unit or were there at the same time. Similarly, the two also served in Afghanistan in 2009, but there is no evidence to suggest they operated in the same region or unit during that period.
Also, the two used rental company Turo for the vehicles involved in the incidents. "We don't believe there's any further threat from this subject or anybody associated to him here in Las Vegas," McMahill said, as per BBC.
Livelsberger was serving in Germany but was on approved leave at the time of the incident. He was in Colorado to see his wife and eight-month-old daughter, according to Livelsberger’s father adding that he spoke to his son on Christmas and that everything seemed normal.
Livelsberger had decades of experience in his military career, having served in both the US Army and National Guard. He held the distinguished position of Special Forces Intelligence Sergeant and was recognised with multiple decorations for his service.
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