On New Year’s Day, a rented Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas. A federal investigation has identified the driver, as Matthew Livelsberger, 37, who carried out a suicide mission on New Years Day.
During a press conference on Thursday, Las Vegas Sheriff Kevin McMahill confirmed that Livelsberger had sustained a gunshot wound to the head before the explosion. “Officials believe the shot was self-inflicted,” McMahill stated.
He added, “This appears to be a suicide with a bombing that occurred immediately thereafter, rather than a suicide mission.”
A Decorated Military Career
Matthew Livelsberger, 37, was a highly decorated soldier with 19 years of service in the U.S. Army.
He served in the Green Berets, with deployments to Afghanistan, Ukraine, Tajikistan, Georgia, and Congo. Among his accolades were two Bronze Stars—one with a valor device for courage under fire—a Combat Infantry Badge, and an Army Commendation Medal with valor.
According to his uncle Dean, a Vietnam veteran, Matt was “a 100 percent patriot,” a “Rambo-type” who “loved the Army.”
Limited Damage from the Explosion
The explosion, caused by a mix of fireworks and fuel canisters, primarily damaged the Cybertruck’s interior.
