The driver of the Tesla Cybertruck that exploded in Las Vegas died from a gunshot wound to the head, prior to the vehicle’s detonation, as per authorities. In a Thursday press conference, Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill named 37-year-old U.S. Army soldier Matthew Livelsberger as the prime suspect in the incident, which resulted in one fatality and seven injuries.
McMahill noted that the driver’s body was burnt beyond recognition, adding, “I still don’t have confirmation 100% that’s the individual in the vehicle.”
Authorities are awaiting medical records to verify if Livelsberger was driving. The gunshot wound is believed to be self-inflicted, indicated by a handgun found in the Cybertruck.
McMahill revealed that footage from Tesla charging stations, provided by Elon Musk, helped trace the vehicle’s movements, including its arrival in Las Vegas around 7:30 AM and subsequent approach to the valet area of the Trump International Hotel roughly an hour later, where it remained for 15-20 seconds before the explosion. An afternoon news briefing displayed video evidence with fireworks mortars and other explosives packed in the pickup’s bed, noting that the blast went upwards due to the intact truck bed walls, sparing the sides from damage, reports the Express US.
Matthew Livelsberger was a member of the Army’s elite Green Berets
(Image: (Image: Linkedin))
Musk revealed on Wednesday afternoon on X that “we have now confirmed that the explosion was caused by very large fireworks and/or a bomb carried in the bed of the rented Cybertruck and is unrelated to the vehicle itself. All vehicle telemetry was positive at the time of the explosion.”
He then ridiculed the driver, stating: “The evil knuckleheads picked the wrong vehicle for a terrorist attack. Cybertruck actually contained the explosion and directed the blast upwards.”
The police have addressed speculation that the attack may have been aimed at the hotel due to Musk’s association with Trump. “This is a Tesla truck, and we know that Elon Musk is working with President-elect Trump, and it’s the Trump Tower,” McMahill said when reporters asked about potential political connections.
“So there’s obviously things to be concerned about and it’s something we continue to look at.”
The 64-story hotel is just off the Las Vegas Strip and across the street from the Fashion Show Las Vegas shopping mall. Eric Trump, a son of the president-elect and executive vice president of the Trump Organization, posted about the fire on the social media platform X.
He commended the fire department and local law enforcement “for their swift response and professionalism.”