What We Know About the Cybertruck Explosion in Las Vegas

A man driving a Tesla Cybertruck that exploded outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas on Wednesday morning shot himself in the head just moments before the vehicle was consumed by flames, authorities revealed on Thursday.https://wordpress.com/

Earlier that day, military officials identified the driver as an Army master sergeant who had been on leave from active duty.

Investigations are ongoing to determine the cause and motive behind the incident, which resulted in seven injuries. Here’s what we know so far:

What occurred during the explosion?

Around 8:40 a.m. local time on Wednesday, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department responded to a report of an explosion at the Trump International Hotel, a 64-story building located on Fashion Show Drive, just off the Las Vegas Strip.

A rented 2024 Tesla Cybertruck had “pulled up to the glass entrance doors of the hotel,” according to Sheriff Kevin McMahill, before the explosion occurred. Witnesses saw the vehicle erupt in flames as it sat outside the hotel.

Once firefighters extinguished the fire, authorities discovered gasoline canisters, camp fuel canisters, and large firework mortars in the back of the truck, though they were uncertain about the exact cause of the explosion.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk commented on the incident via X (formerly Twitter), stating that “the explosion was caused by very large fireworks and/or a bomb in the bed of the rented Cybertruck,” and affirmed that the vehicle had been functioning normally.

Musk, who has a close relationship with President-elect Donald Trump (whose name is attached to the hotel), had spent more than $250 million in the final months of Trump’s campaign, helping him secure the presidency. Trump is set to take office on January 20, and Musk has been chosen to co-lead a new government efficiency commission.

Who was the driver?

The Army confirmed on Thursday that the driver was Matthew Alan Livelsberger, a 37-year-old Army master sergeant from Colorado Springs.

According to the Army, Sergeant Livelsberger joined as a Special Forces trainee and served on active duty from January 2006 to March 2011. He then served in the National Guard and Army Reserve before rejoining active duty in December 2012 with U.S. Army Special Operations. At the time of the explosion, he was on approved leave.

Sheriff McMahill reported that in addition to the gunshot wound, Livelsberger’s body had been severely burned and was “beyond recognition.”

Were there any injuries?

Livelsberger was the only person inside the truck and died at the scene. At least seven others sustained minor injuries.

Hotel guests were evacuated following the explosion, though the hotel itself appeared to have sustained little damage.

The FBI is investigating whether the explosion could be classified as an act of terrorism. By Wednesday afternoon, Sheriff McMahill stated that there was “no further threat to the community.”

By Thursday morning, the scene outside the Trump Hotel had quieted down, with a police vehicle stationed near the entrance and security personnel placing caution tape around the explosion site.

Is this incident linked to the attack in New Orleans?

The FBI has not found any connection between the Las Vegas explosion and the New Orleans attack, which resulted in 14 fatalities. However, FBI Deputy Assistant Director Christopher Raia stated on Thursday that investigations were still underway, and no possibilities had been ruled out.

In New Orleans, a man driving a pickup truck killed 14 people on New Year’s Day, just hours before the Tesla explosion in Las Vegas. Both vehicles had been rented through the peer-to-peer car rental service Turo, which connects car owners with renters. Turo reported that around 3.5 million people had booked a vehicle through the platform in the past year.