An investigator in Las Vegas holds a damaged U.S. government ID belonging to Matthew Livelsberger, a 37-year-old active-duty Army soldier from Colorado Springs. Police have identified Livelsberger as the driver of the Tesla Cybertruck that exploded outside the Trump International Hotel on January 2, 2025, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Reuters
Authorities have confirmed that the individual killed in the Cybertruck explosion outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas was Matthew Livelsberger, a 37-year-old U.S. Army soldier from Colorado Springs. The tragic incident unfolded on New Year's Day, leaving seven people with minor injuries and sparking extensive investigations. The FBI has stated there is no clear link between this explosion and a separate New Orleans truck attack that claimed 15 lives earlier that day.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department revealed that Livelsberger acted alone. According to officials, he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound moments before gasoline canisters and fireworks in the truck bed detonated. The Clark County Coroner's report confirmed his identity through DNA evidence, as the body was burned beyond recognition.
Police recovered two semi-automatic handguns, legally purchased by Livelsberger days before the incident, as well as military identification, a passport, an iPhone, and credit cards from the truck. A spokesperson for the Army Special Operations Command confirmed that Livelsberger, an active-duty soldier, was on approved leave at the time.
Livelsberger's military career was notable; he had received a Bronze Star and other commendations for valor during his five combat deployments to Afghanistan. A relative described him as a dedicated soldier who had dreamt of joining the Special Forces from a young age. The relative also mentioned Livelsberger’s admiration for President-elect Donald Trump, whom he considered a strong supporter of the military.
Investigators examine the charred remains of a Tesla Cybertruck, which police identified as being driven by 37-year-old Matthew Livelsberger, an active-duty Army soldier from Colorado Springs. The vehicle exploded outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, on January 2, 2025. Reuters
Witness accounts captured dramatic footage of the explosion, showing flames engulfing the Cybertruck parked in front of the Trump International Hotel. The vehicle, an electric model with a striking angular design, had been rented by Livelsberger in Denver on December 28. He traveled through several cities, including Albuquerque and Flagstaff, before arriving in Las Vegas.
The truck had been driven along the bustling Las Vegas Strip and returned to the Trump hotel’s valet area shortly before the explosion. While the incident occurred at a Trump-owned property and involved a Tesla vehicle, police emphasized they had no evidence to suggest it was motivated by political or ideological factors. "We don’t have information that definitively links the explosion to any particular reasoning," said Sheriff Kevin McMahill.
The Trump Organization commended the swift response of local law enforcement and firefighters, while Tesla declined to comment. The vehicle, along with the truck involved in the New Orleans attack, had been rented through the car-sharing service Turo. A Turo spokesperson stated that neither renter had a criminal background that would have flagged them as a security risk.
Livelsberger’s family expressed shock and disbelief, with a relative stating there were no signs he was planning such an act. Livelsberger had been a standout athlete and well-liked student during his high school years in Ohio before joining the military immediately after graduation in 2005.
Investigations continue as authorities work to understand the motives behind the explosion, while those affected by the incident recover and seek answers.
