Matthew Livelsberger has been named locally as the driver of the Tesla Cybertruck that exploded
The driver of the Tesla Cybertruck that exploded outside Donald Trump’s Las Vegas hotel on New Year’s Day was an army veteran who served for nearly two decades.
Matthew Livelsberger has been named locally as the driver of the electric vehicle that blew up in the valet area outside the Trump International Hotel.
Livelsberger, a 37-year-old from Colorado, is thought to have rented the Cybertruck from Turo, a car leasing service, before packing it with firework-style mortars, camping fuel and canisters.
He was serving in Germany but was on leave in Colorado at the time of the attack, sources told CBS.
A relative told the broadcaster they were unaware of his involvement in the incident but confirmed he had rented a Cybertruck.
His wife had not heard from him in several days.
An intelligence and operations specialist, Livelsberger claimed on his LinkedIn profile that he spent 19 years in the army, 18 of those with the special forces.
Reports suggest he had several addresses in Colorado Springs, with at least one raided by the FBI on Wednesday night.
Via TMZ | Alcides Antunes
Authorities are investigating a possible link between Livelsberger and Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the terrorist behind the New Orleans car attack that killed 15 people on New Year’s Eve.
Like Livelsberger, Jabbar served in the army and, according to some reports, worked at the same military base as the alleged Cybertruck bomber.
Jabbar, whose Ford truck was carrying a homemade Islamic State (IS) flag, also hired the vehicle with Turo.
A Turo spokesman said the company was “actively partnering with law enforcement authorities as they investigate both incidents”, adding: “We do not believe that either renter involved in the Las Vegas and New Orleans attacks had a criminal background that would have identified them as a security threat.
“We remain committed to maintaining the highest standards in risk management, thanks to our world-class trust and safety technologies and teams that include experienced former law enforcement professionals.”
Sheriff Kevin McMahill, of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, said authorities know who rented the truck in Colorado but were not releasing the name until investigators determine whether it was the same person who died.
Law enforcement officials believe Jabbar was not acting alone, although it is unclear if the pair crossed paths during their time in the military.
“We are absolutely investigating any connectivity to what happened in New Orleans as well as other attacks that have been occurring around the world,” Mr McMahill said. “We are not ruling anything out.”
The explosion in Las Vegas is thought to have killed Livelsberger and injured seven others. Posts made on Facebook suggest he was a Trump supporter and a firework enthusiast, having once likened fireworks shows to the “sounds of battle”.
The Las Vegas explosion is thought to have killed Matthew Livelsberger and injured seven others
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police and Clark County Fire Department officials said a person died inside the futuristic-looking pick-up truck, which remained largely intact.
Officials are also likely to consider whether Livelsberger deliberately chose a car made by Elon Musk, given the billionaire’s relationship with Donald Trump, the US president-elect.
By late Wednesday afternoon, authorities were still working to get the body out of the vehicle and start processing the evidence inside.
Joe Biden, the US president, was briefed on the explosion. Mr Musk said the blast “appears likely to be an act of terrorism”, adding in a statement: “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 and is unrelated to the vehicle itself.
“All vehicle telemetry was positive at the time of the explosion.”
Credit: X / kaaaassuu
The police are treating the explosion as possibly criminal or an act of terror until a motive is determined.
Meanwhile, details of Jabbar’s background have begun to emerge, including his life as an estate agent, his divorce and his financial troubles.
The FBI said he was believed to have been honourably discharged, and the Pentagon is said to be poring over its records to locate more information about his services and where he had been based.
In a video, believed to be posted by the Texas-born terrorist on YouTube, he said he worked for both the Midas Group and Blue Meadow Properties. He also said he was born in Beaumont, Texas, but was then based in Houston.
“I’ve been here all my life, with the exception of travelling for the military, where I spent 10 years as a human resources and IT specialist,” said Jabbar.
He said he “learnt the meaning of great service and what it means to be responsive and take everything seriously, dotting Is and crossing Ts to make sure that things go off without a hitch”.
Credit: YouTube/Shamsud-Din Jabbar
He was in considerable financial difficulties, owing more than $27,000 in late home payments and at risk of foreclosure, he said, and he had taken on $16,000 in credit card debt because of his living expenses.
Criminal records reported by The New York Times showed that Jabbar had two previous charges for minor offences – one in 2002 for theft and another in 2005 for driving with an invalid licence.
Dwayne Marsh, the husband of Jabbar’s former wife, said Jabbar had begun to convert to Islam within the last year and was “being all crazy”.
The attacks have led to heightened security in major cities across the United States, including New York. Writing on X, Eric Adams, the New York mayor, said there would be heightened security around Trump Tower and Times Square.
He said: “While there are no immediate threats to our city at this time, out of an abundance of caution, we have heightened security and have increased NYPD presence at relevant locations.”
