Las Vegas officials have identified the driver of a Tesla Cybertruck that exploded outside Trump International Hotel as 37-year-old Matthew Livelsberger, an active-duty U.S. Army special operations soldier from Colorado Springs. The body was badly burnt, but evidence including a passport, driver’s license, military identification card, and a tattoo on his arm helped confirm his identity. Additionally, investigators found guns, an iPhone, smartwatch, and credit cards with Livelsberger’s name on them, further confirming his involvement in the incident. The investigation also revealed that Livelsberger sustained a gunshot wound to the head before the explosion occurred, indicating possible self-harm.
Livelsberger’s movements were tracked through photographs and charging stations after he rented the Cybertruck through the Turo app. He was seen driving through Monument, Colorado; Trinidad, Colorado; Las Vegas, New Mexico; Gallup, New Mexico; Flagstaff, Arizona; and Kingman, Arizona, before arriving in Las Vegas. Video footage showed him driving up and down the strip and pulling into the Trump hotel’s valet area. Just 17 seconds after his return to the hotel, the truck exploded, killing Livelsberger and injuring seven others. There is no indication that anyone else was involved in the incident, and investigators have only seen Livelsberger inside the truck.
On the same morning as the Vegas incident, a man named Shamsud Din Jabbar plowed a truck with an ISIS flag into a crowd on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, leading to multiple casualties. Like Livelsberger, Jabbar rented the vehicle through Turo. Both men were previously stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and served in Afghanistan in 2009, although there is no evidence to suggest they were there at the same time or location. Livelsberger was a Green Beret operations sergeant who spent most of his time at Fort Carson, Colorado, and in Germany. He was on approved leave from Germany at the time of the incident, having served in the National Guard and Army Reserve.
Las Vegas Sheriff Kevin McMahill stated that Livelsberger’s body was too burnt to confirm his identity through DNA or medical records, but the presence of credit cards, military identification, and a passport helped authorities make a positive identification. The investigation also revealed that Livelsberger had sustained a gunshot wound to the head before the explosion took place, suggesting a possible act of self-harm. Although the body was unrecognizable, tattoos on the arm further supported the belief that the body was indeed Livelsberger. Investigators did not find any indication of other individuals being involved in the incident, and all evidence pointed to Livelsberger as the sole person responsible for the explosion.
Livelsberger’s movements were tracked through various charging stations and photographs, confirming his presence in the Cybertruck during the incident. The truck was last spotted in Kingman, Arizona, before arriving in Las Vegas just before 7:30 a.m. Video footage showed the truck moving throughout the city, including pulling into the Trump hotel’s valet area. Shortly after returning to the hotel, the vehicle exploded, killing Livelsberger and seriously injuring several others. The incident is still under investigation, and authorities are working to determine Livelsberger’s motives for carrying out such a destructive act. The discovery of a gunshot wound to the head suggests a possible act of self-harm, adding another layer of complexity to the case.
