US Army Soldier Matthew Livelsberger Identified as Victim of Tesla Cybertruck Explosion Outside Trump Hotel in Las Vegas | US News

Authorities have identified the individual believed to have perished in the Tesla Cybertruck explosion outside one of Donald Trump’s US hotels as an active-duty US Army soldier, according to US officials.

Law enforcement officials have named the man found in the vehicle as Matthew Livelsberger, as reported by the AP news agency.

The incident occurred outside the president-elect’s hotel in Las Vegas on New Year’s Day, resulting in minor injuries to seven individuals.

Officers are treating the explosion as a potential terror attack. While the exact cause of the explosion remains undetermined, authorities discovered fireworks mortars, canisters, and other explosive materials in the truck’s back.

The explosion happened just hours after a man drove a truck into New Year’s Eve crowds in New Orleans, Louisiana, resulting in 15 fatalities.

Investigators are looking into any connections between the two incidents, according to Sheriff Kevin McMahill from the Las Vegas police. However, law enforcement sources who spoke to NBC earlier indicated that they did not believe the events were related.

Mr. McMahill stated that the truck involved in the Las Vegas explosion was rented in Colorado and arrived in the city at 7:30 AM local time (3:30 PM UK time).

“It drove up and down Las Vegas Boulevard before pulling into the Trump Towers,” he added.

The 64-story hotel is located just behind the iconic Las Vegas Strip, directly across from the Fashion Show Las Vegas shopping mall.

Tesla, owned by tech billionaire Elon Musk, has been a significant supporter of Mr. Trump—donating millions to his successful 2024 US election campaign. Musk has been assigned to lead Mr. Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency.

Mr. McMahill mentioned that Mr. Musk provided law enforcement with “substantial additional information regarding how the vehicle was secured after the explosion, as well as access to video footage from Tesla charging stations nationwide.”

Earlier, Mr. Musk posted on X: “We have confirmed that the explosion was caused by large fireworks and/or a bomb located in the bed of the rented Cybertruck and is not related to the vehicle itself. All vehicle telemetry indicated normal operation at the time of the explosion.”

This is a developing story, and more information will be released as it becomes available.

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