Tesla Cybertruck bomber Matthew Livelsberger had access to high-level intelligence and was part of a military special forces unit that oversaw drone operations and maintenance.
The 37-year-old shot himself in the head when the improvised explosive devices he had planted exploded around him outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas on New Year’s Day.
His body was charred beyond recognition and seven innocent victims were injured in the attack. Police chiefs praise Elon Musk’s Cybertruck for preventing further casualties.
Livelsberger was a decorated soldier and active member of the military who had served in Afghanistan.
During his 19-year military career, Livelsberger served in several critical positions that gave him access to sensitive intelligence and data.
In November 2024, he accepted a role as a remote and autonomous systems administrator while stationed at Camp Panzer Kaserne, just southwest of Stuttgart, Germany.
In that role, he helped integrate drones into the military and ensured they were operated and maintained at an adequate level.
But before that, he spent seven years involved in intelligence and operations for the special forces.
The 37-year-old shot himself in the head when the improvised explosive devices he planted exploded around him outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas on New Year’s Day.
Matthew Livelsberger, 37, was identified as the bomber in the attack that injured seven. He is pictured in Afghanistan in a local newspaper profile in the Ohio town where he grew up
Livelsberger is suspected of renting the Tesla Cybertruck in Colorado Springs, via the Turo app, and driving it across the border into Nevada on Wednesday morning – where he carried out the attack (photo)
Livelsberg is seen in another photo of his deployment
As part of this role, he conducted vulnerability assessments, cultural studies and technical data analysis.
Livelsberger had a break in his service, which allowed him to return to the US to carry out the plot.
The 37-year-old’s wife had not heard from him for several days, but relatives have since come forward to describe him as a “patriot” who “loved Trump” and his country.
Livelsberger is suspected of renting the Cybertruck in Colorado Springs and driving it across the border into Nevada on Wednesday morning to carry out his attack.
During a news conference, Sheriff Kevin McMahill said the car arrived in Las Vegas at 7:30 a.m. The explosion happened at 8.40am in the valet outside the hotel.
At the scene of the explosion, charred fireworks, gas canisters and camping fuel were found in the bed of the truck when authorities were finally able to extinguish the fire.
Police found credit cards, his passport and military identification card on him. The weapons found in the truck were legally purchased on December 30, 2024.
Police are investigating whether Livelsberger tried to send a message to new President Trump and Elon Musk.
Police found credit cards, his passport and military ID on him, but they are still calling him a person of interest as they wait for DNA confirmation
The body of Matthew Livelsberger, 37, was burned beyond recognition after he apparently blew up a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump hotel in Las Vegas
Law enforcement sources also revealed that Livelsberger previously served at the same military base as New Orleans terrorist Shamsud Din Jabbar, who drove a rented truck into a crowd of New Year’s revelers on Wednesday, killing at least 14 people and injuring dozens.
In addition, both also served in Afghanistan in 2009, but officials say they have seen no evidence they were in the same facility or unit. That is still being investigated.
Hours before Livelsberger’s explosion, Shamsud Din Jabbar, 42, drove an electric vehicle into the crowd in New Orleans.
The timing immediately raised fears of a coordinated terror attack as the United States was still reeling from the violence on the streets of New Orleans.
The Texas-born terrorist had an ISIS flag draped on the back of the vehicle as he drove into the crowd.
Jabbar, a deranged American veteran, got out of his car and started firing a gun. Investigators later added that they found what appeared to be improvised explosive devices at the crash site that failed to detonate.
The cars used in both attacks were rented through Turo and were both electric vehicles, raising concerns about their connection.
‘Do I think it’s a coincidence? I don’t know,” said Sheriff Kevin McMahill. “We are definitely exploring any connections to New Orleans.”
Police have released a series of photos from inside the Cybertruck that exploded outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, revealing an arsenal of explosives
The 37-year-old man reportedly has a military background and served on the same base as Shamsud Din Jabbar (pictured), who fatally struck 15 people in a rental car in the early hours of New Year’s Day in New Orleans.
A Cybertruck – made by Trump ally Elon Musk’s company Tesla – was seen in a fiery blaze outside the revolving doors of the Trump International Hotel on Wednesday
A spokesperson for Turo later issued a statement describing the company’s heartbreak “due to the violence committed in New Orleans and Las Vegas, and our prayers are with the victims and families.”
“We are actively working with law enforcement authorities as they investigate both incidents.
“We do not believe that the tenants involved in the attacks in Las Vegas and New Orleans had a criminal background that would have classified them as a threat to security.”
Officers shared a series of photos taken from inside the car, which showed fireworks, gas tanks and camping fuel in the bed of the truck.