Cybertruck driver injured in head before explosion - US authorities
03/01/2025
Matthew Livelsberger's autopsy documents were found inside the Tesla Cybertruck involved in the explosion outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas. - Image/ AP
WASHINGTON: The driver of a Tesla Cybertruck was confirmed to have been shot in the head before the vehicle exploded outside Trump's hotel in Las Vegas, killing one and injuring seven others, according to authorities.
Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill identified the driver as Matthew Livelsberger in a news conference, Anadolu Agency reported.
"I consider it a suicide because of the explosion that occurred shortly afterwards. I don't give any other labels. "We have not found any indication that other individuals may be involved in this case," he said.
McMahill also commented on reports of possible links between the Las Vegas suspect and the suspect in the New Orleans attack at the beginning of the New Year, noting that both had served at the Fort Bragg, North Carolina, military base.
However, it is a very large military base and there is no record showing them serving in the same unit or in the same year at Fort Bragg, he said, adding that the matter was still under investigation.
Both suspects were also sent to Afghanistan in 2009, but there is no evidence they were in the same territory, location or unit during the deployment.
"We also know, of course, that both use the rental company, Turo to rent their vehicles," he said.
Meanwhile, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said there was no "definite link" between the deadly attack in New Orleans and the vehicle explosion outside Trump's hotel in Las Vegas.
In an attack in the French Quarter in New Orleans, the driver of a pickup truck rammed into a crowd on Bourbon Street, killing at least 15 people and injuring more than 30 others.
The suspect identified as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, is from Texas.
"There are five videos uploaded on Jabbar's Facebook account... In the first video, Jabbar explained that he originally planned to harm his family and friends, but was worried that the headlines would not focus on 'the war between the faithful and the infidels.'
"In addition, he stated that he had joined ISIS before this summer," FBI Deputy Assistant Director Christopher Raia said.
Raia called the attack an "act of violence."
"It was planned and an evil act," he added.
Three mobile phones linked to Jabbar were found and "the exploitation of digital media is a priority to see what is in the device and determine if there are any further clues".
He said the FBI had also recovered two laptops and was currently reviewing them for other leads.
McMahill touched on the "very strange similarities" between the two events: "We are not ready to draw any conclusions at this point; There is still a lot we need to do in the investigation."
FBI Special Agent Spencer Evans said authorities were still investigating the motive behind the explosion in Las Vegas.
