Authorities have identified Matthew Livelsberger, an active-duty U.S. Army soldier, as the driver of the Tesla Cybertruck that exploded outside Trump International Hotel Las Vegas on New Year's Day. The explosion resulted in Livelsberger's death and injured seven others. The incident occurred around 8:40 a.m. local time, with the truck detonating roughly 15-20 seconds after arriving at the hotel.
The truck reportedly contained gasoline, camp fuel containers, and large firework mortars. Video footage shows the truck erupting into flames, with fireworks scattering. Law enforcement officials, speaking anonymously to the Associated Press, confirmed Livelsberger's identity. The 37-year-old special operations soldier was on leave from his deployment in Germany with the 10th Special Forces Group. He had multiple addresses linked to him.
The Army confirmed Livelsberger's active duty began in January 2006, reaching the rank of Master Sergeant. His service included time at Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg) in North Carolina, a key hub for Army Special Forces. He also served in the National Guard and Army Reserve.
The FBI is investigating a possible connection between the Las Vegas explosion and a New Orleans terror attack that occurred earlier the same day. In the New Orleans incident, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a 42-year-old U.S. citizen, drove a truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street, killing 15. The FBI has classified this as an act of terrorism. Both vehicles involved, the Cybertruck and Jabbar's truck, were rented through the peer-to-peer car rental platform Turo. Jabbar's truck displayed an ISIS flag, while the Cybertruck did not.
Although both Livelsberger and Jabbar served at Fort Liberty, a defense official stated there's no evidence from their military records to suggest a link between the attacks. Their service at the base occurred at different times. The FBI conducted searches related to the attacks in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Houston, Texas. Livelsberger's most recent address was an overseas military address, with prior residences listed in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, and Colorado Springs. His wife reported not having heard from him for several days.
Las Vegas Sheriff Kevin McMahill noted the Cybertruck's robust construction limited damage, with the blast directed upwards, leaving even the hotel's front glass doors intact. Tesla CEO Elon Musk assisted the investigation by providing information about the vehicle's locking mechanism post-explosion and sharing surveillance footage from Tesla charging stations. Musk confirmed on social media that the explosion originated from fireworks or a bomb in the truck bed, unrelated to the vehicle itself. He highlighted how the Cybertruck contained the blast.
