Authorities are still investigating the motives behind an incident involving a U.S. Army soldier who rented a Tesla Cybertruck and drove it to the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, where he is believed to have taken his own life before the truck exploded on New Year’s Day.
Las Vegas Sheriff Kevin McMahill has named 37-year-old Matthew Livelsberger from Colorado Springs, Colorado, as a person of interest in the case. However, McMahill has not definitively labeled Livelsberger as a suspect until DNA testing confirms the identity of the deceased individual found inside the Cybertruck.
On the morning of New Year’s Day, at approximately 8:40 a.m., the Cybertruck arrived at the hotel’s valet entrance. Shortly after coming to a stop, the vehicle exploded, with witnesses reporting fireworks emanating from the bulletproof truck.
Along with fireworks, McMahill said the truck contained camping fuel and gasoline. The explosion did not damage the body of the truck, other than glass and the bed cover, the sheriff noted.
Investigators are looking at the content inside a Tesla Cybertruck, which blew up in front of the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas New Year’s Day. (Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Press Conference)
“Matt was a very skilled warrior, and he would be able to make — if it was him, and if he did this — he would’ve been able to make a more sophisticated explosive than using propane tanks and camping fuel,” he reportedly said. “He was what you might call a ‘supersoldier.’ If you ever read about the things he was awarded and the experience he had, some of it doesn’t make sense, when he had the skills and ability to make something more, let’s say, ‘efficient.’ His skills were enormous from what he had been taught in the military.”
With those skills, Dean said, Livelsberger “could have fashioned a bomb that would have obliterated half of that hotel if he seriously wanted to hurt others.”
Livelsberger was a Green Beret operations sergeant who spent most of his time at Fort Carson, Colorado, and in Germany. McMahill said Livelsberger was approved leave from Germany, where he was serving with the special forces group. He also previously served in the National Guard and Army Reserve.
He also received several awards and honors while serving in the U.S. Army.
U.S. Army Public Affairs told Fox News Livelsberger earned the Bronze Star Medal with Valor; Bronze Star Medal four times; Meritorious Service Medal; Army Commendation Medal with Valor; Army Commendation Medal three times; Army Achievement Medal two times; Army Good Conduct Medal five times; National Defense Service Medal; Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star three times; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon three times; Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon; NATO Medal two times; Special Forces Tab; Combat Infantryman Badge; Parachutist Badge; and Freefall Badge.
Fox News Digital’s Sarah Rumpf-Whitten and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
