Suspect Behind Explosion Outside Trump Hotel Identified As Decorated US Soldier

A decorated United States soldier, Matthew Livelsberger, has been identified as the driver of the Tesla-made Cybertruck that exploded outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas on New Year Day.

The incident, which claimed the life of 37-year-old Livelsberger and injured seven others, is being investigated by local and federal authorities.

Law enforcement officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed Livelsberger’s identity to the Associated Press (AP). Livelsberger, an active-duty member of the 10th Special Forces Group, was on leave from his station in Germany.

The explosion occurred at approximately 8:40am on Wednesday, moments after Livelsberger parked the rented vehicle near the hotel’s entrance. Witness footage captured the vehicle erupting in a fireball, with fireworks shooting in all directions. Officials revealed that the truck was packed with gasoline, camp fuel containers, and large firework mortars.

Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill disclosed during a press conference that a handgun, believed to have been used in a self-inflicted gunshot wound, was found at Livelsberger’s feet. “The level of sophistication is not what we would expect from an individual with this type of military experience,” said Kenny Cooper, special agent in charge for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

While damage from the blast was largely contained within the vehicle, McMahill noted that its steel construction absorbed much of the force. Items recovered from the truck included a second firearm, fireworks, a passport, military ID, credit cards, and electronic devices. Authorities said that both firearms were legally purchased.

Livelsberger joined the Army in 2006, eventually rising to the rank of Master Sergeant. He served with the Green Berets, deploying twice to Afghanistan and undertaking missions in Ukraine, Tajikistan, Georgia, and Congo. His commendations included two Bronze Stars—one with a valor device for courage under fire—along with a combat infantry badge and an Army Commendation Medal with valor.

An Army spokesperson confirmed that Livelsberger was on approved leave at the time of the incident.

Authorities traced the Cybertruck’s journey from Colorado to Las Vegas, where it was charged at several locations, including Monument, Trinidad, Albuquerque, and Flagstaff, before arriving on the Strip early Wednesday morning. The vehicle was rented in Denver.

Sheriff McMahill stated that while Livelsberger’s tattoos and IDs strongly suggest his identity, forensic confirmation was pending.

LEADERSHIP recalls that the explosion came just hours after a separate New Year Day attack in New Orleans, where 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar rammed a truck into a crowd, killing 15 before being fatally shot by police. Both Jabbar and Livelsberger had ties to Fort Bragg—now renamed Fort Liberty—but investigators have found no evidence of a connection between the two incidents.

“We have found no definitive link,” said Chris Raia, FBI deputy assistant director.

Tesla’s CEO Elon Musk emphasised that the explosion was unrelated to the Cybertruck itself. “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,” Musk posted on X. “All vehicle telemetry was positive at the time of the explosion.”