On January 1, 2025, a Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, resulting in the death of the driver and injuries to seven bystanders. Authorities identified the driver as Matthew Livelsberger, a 37-year-old active-duty U.S. Army Green Beret from Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Livelsberger had served in the Army since 2006, with deployments to Afghanistan, Ukraine, Tajikistan, Georgia, and Congo. At the time of the explosion, he was on approved leave from his post in Germany.
Investigation and Findings
Investigators discovered that the Cybertruck was loaded with fireworks, gas canisters, and camping fuel, indicating the presence of a detonation system. Tesla CEO Elon Musk confirmed that the explosion was caused by these materials, not the vehicle itself.
The explosion occurred hours after another attack in New Orleans. In that attack, Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar, an Army veteran, drove a truck into a crowd, killing 15 people and injuring dozens more. Authorities are investigating potential links between the two events, but no definitive connections have been established.
FBI Investigation
The FBI is leading the investigation into the Las Vegas explosion, treating it as a potential terrorist act. They are also examining any possible connections to the New Orleans attack.
Livelsberger’s Background
Reports confirm that the individual involved in the Las Vegas explosion was a highly trained Special Operations soldier. The 37-year-old Livelsberger rented the Tesla Cybertruck before the incident.
He was on leave from his military post in Germany at the time of the attack and was reportedly married to a social worker. According to CBS News, his wife had not heard from him for several days.
Military Service and Special Operations
Livelsberger had over 19 years of service and held a position within the Special Forces command. Sources from the Associated Press confirmed that he had been stationed at the Army base formerly known as Fort Bragg, which is home to the Army Special Forces in North Carolina.
Explosion Details
The electric Cybertruck, known for its futuristic design, exploded about 15 seconds after pulling up at the hotel’s valet parking area. While CNN’s John Miller, the network’s Chief Law Enforcement and Intelligence Analyst, refrained from naming the suspect, he provided additional details about Livelsberger’s background.
Miller stated that Livelsberger was highly trained in communications, bomb detection, and intelligence operations.
Special Operations Expertise
Miller emphasized that Livelsberger was among the most sophisticated and elite members within the Green Berets.
Despite this, investigators faced challenges in confirming whether the individual who rented the Cybertruck was the same as the person who died in the explosion. The severity of the burns on the body made identification difficult.
Potential Links to New Orleans Attack
Miller also mentioned that authorities had not ruled out a possible connection between the Las Vegas explosion and the tragic truck massacre in New Orleans on New Year’s Eve.
In that attack, ISIS supporter Shamsud-Din Jabbar killed 15 people and injured many others. Investigators are still exploring any links between the two incidents.
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Conclusion
As the investigation continues, the FBI is working to determine the full extent of the Las Vegas explosion and its potential ties to other attacks.
With Livelsberger’s Special Forces training and the bomb-like materials found in the Cybertruck, authorities are considering all angles, including the possibility of terrorism and militant connections.
