Two new videos have been released in relation to Wednesday’s Cybertruck explosion outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas as investigators try to piece together what caused an active-duty U.S. Army soldier to kill himself and then blow up the electric pick-up truck.
The first video shows the Tesla Cybertruck slowly leaving the hotel’s valet area earlier in the morning, while the second video is taken from inside the hotel and shows the truck exploding, sending flames and fireworks into the air.Â
Investigators believe Matthew Livelsberger, 37, shot himself in the head before blowing up the futuristic-looking truck outside the iconic hotel, sending flames, fireworks and shrapnel upward just steps away from the hotel’s glass doors.
The Tesla Cybertruck involved in the explosion outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas being inspected by investigators. (Las Vegas Police Department via AP)
Two explosive bangs can be heard, followed by the sound of fireworks going off and then another explosion as the top of the truck remains on fire. The incident took place at around 8:40 a.m. local time.Â
Among the charred items found inside the truck were a handgun at Livelsberger’s feet, another firearm, a number of fireworks, a passport, a military ID, credit cards, an iPhone and a smartwatch, McMahill said. Authorities said both guns were purchased legally.
Livelsberger was a U.S. Army special operations soldier who had several addresses associated with him and was on leave from Germany, where he was serving with the 10th Special Forces Group.
Matthew Livelsberger rented a Tesla Cybertruck in Denver, Colorado, which blew up in front of the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas on New Year’s Day. (Alcides Antunes/via REUTERS, left and Fox News, right.)
Kenny Cooper, a special agent in charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, said the level of sophistication is not what officials would expect from an individual with this type of military experience.
Meanwhile, FBI Special Agent Spencer Evans added that investigators were looking for potential terror ties to Livelsberger but had not found any as of Thursday afternoon.
“The question about whether it’s being investigated globally, absolutely – like I said, we’re running down investigative leads around the world,” he told reporters. “No information that we’re aware of right now that connects this individual to any terrorist organization around the world, but that’s obviously the thrust of the investigation…ruling out that there’s any sort of terrorism nexus.”
An Army spokesperson told Fox News that Livelsberger began active duty in the Army in January 2006 and reached the rank of master sergeant.Â
The Cybertruck on the Las Vegas Strip. (Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Press Conference)
Livelsberger spent time at the base formerly known as Fort Bragg, a massive Army base in North Carolina that is home to the Army Special Forces Command.
Livelsberger joined the National Guard from March 2011 to July 2012, followed by the Army Reserve from July 2012 to December 2012. Additionally, the U.S. Army Special Operations Command confirmed Livelsberger was on approved leave at the time of his death.Â
Fox News’ Mitch Picasso and Michael Ruiz as well as The Associated Press contributed to this report.
