Headline
Individual Confirmed as Deceased in Cybertruck Blast Revealed as Green Beret and Bronze Star Awardee – Uncovering Details About Him
Green Beret Matthew Livelsberger, serving in active duty, reportedly ended his life with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head just prior to a Tesla Cybertruck explosion outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas on New Year's Day. The incident is under investigation by authorities as a potential act of terrorism.
Crucial Points
The Clark County Coroner, based in Nevada, identified Livelsberger, 37, as the driver of the Cybertruck who took his own life preceding the blast, as per the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.
Upon examination of Livelsberger's phone left behind from the explosion, messages were discovered indicating a belief that the United States was on the brink of collapse. Livelsberger expressed his reasons for carrying out the act as a means to purge his mind of fallen comrades and relieve himself of the weight of lives he took, as stated in an LVMPD press conference.
The notes also discredited the act as a terrorist attack, instead considering it a 'wake-up call'. They further suggested that Americans only pay attention to spectacles and aggression.
Las Vegas Sheriff Kevin McMahill revealed that multiple IDs belonging to Livelsberger, including a passport and military ID, were discovered within the Cybertruck. However, the body in the wreckage was too charred for immediate identification.
Livelsberger had served as part of the Army's Green Berets special forces unit, was stationed at Fort Bragg, and was on leave from Germany at the time of the explosion, McMahill shared. Livelsberger was said to have earned five Bronze Stars, among which one with a valor device for bravery in combat, a Combat Infantry Badge, and an Army Commendation Medal with valor.
Livelsberger and Shamsud-Din Jabbar, identified as the suspect responsible for driving into a crowded street in New Orleans also on New Year's Day, causing at least 14 fatalities, shared military backgrounds and deployments. They had both served at Fort Bragg at different times and in the same Afghanistan deployment in the 2000s.
The vehicles were rented through the car-sharing app Turo. Turo released a statement declaring that neither Livelsberger or Jabbar had criminal records that might have flagged them as a potential threat.
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Things to Keep an Eye On
On Thursday, the FBI reported performing 'law enforcement activities' at a home in Colorado Springs connected to the explosion, without supplying further information. Investigators also retrieved a second phone from the Cybertruck, though they have faced challenges in accessing it.
Additional Insights on Livelsberger
Livelsberger resided with his wife and daughter in Colorado Springs, as per the Denver Gazette. Livelsberger's ex-girlfriend, Alicia Arritt, shared that a shift in Livelsberger's attitude and behavior began to emerge in 2019 following his deployment, which included isolation and signs of depression. Arritt mentioned that the absence of treatment was due to stigma surrounding seeking treatment in special forces.
Spencer Evans, FBI Las Vegas field office's special agent in charge, confirmed in a press conference that investigators strongly suspected Livelsberger was battling post-traumatic stress disorder. Livelsberger sent numerous text messages to Arritt in the days prior to the explosion, sharing that he left his home after an argument with his wife, and sent pictures of his rented Cybertruck. No messages hinted at Livelsberger planning the explosion, Arritt disclosed to the Gazette.
Origins of Matthew Livelsberger's Journey
Livelsberger picked up his rented Cybertruck in Denver on Dec. 29 before heading south. He recharged the truck in Monument, Colorado, on Dec. 30 and again on New Year’s Eve in multiple locations, including Trinidad, Colorado, and New Mexico, before reaching Las Vegas, Nevada, on Jan. 1.
Items Found Within the Cybertruck
A pistol and semi-automatic rifle were discovered within the vehicle, both of which were legally purchased by Livelsberger, according to Kenneth Cooper, the assistant special agent in charge of the ATF office in San Francisco. The pistol was discovered at the feet of the person inside the truck, as shared by McMahill. Pyrotechnic shells, firework mortars, camp fuel canisters, and fuel enhancers were also found within the vehicle. The cause of the explosion remains under investigation.
Is the Explosion Linked to the New Orleans Attack?
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The FBI has yet to establish a direct connection between the explosion of a Cybertruck and the New Orleans attack, as investigations into both incidents are still in their initial stages. Turo, the vehicle rental company, has no information suggesting a relationship between the two incidents. Furthermore, there's no evidence linking the Cybertruck explosion to ISIS, unlike the New Orleans attack where an ISIS flag was found.
MCMahill mentioned that initial investigations suggested the explosion might be a suicide, following by a self-inflicted bomb detonation. Evans hinted at potential family or personal issues influencing the individual's actions, while a conspiracy theory suggested Livelsberger was framed and someone else was the actual shooter, with the Cybertruck's Autopilot feature manipulated to guide the vehicle to the hotel. However, Tesla CEO Elon Musk dismissed this theory, stating the Autopilot feature wouldn't operate unless an "attentive" driver is in the front seat.
One of Livelsberger's relatives claimed the explosion was unrelated to politics, despite taking place outside the Trump Hotel and being connected to a Tesla vehicle. Livelsberger reportedly expressed support for Trump on social media prior to the incident. A military colleague was surprised by the incident, who mentioned Livelsberger never displayed signs of distress during their deployment or upon returning home from Afghanistan.
Musk confirmed the explosion was caused by large fireworks or an explosive situated in the Cybertruck's cargo area. Law enforcement speculates the explosion was intentional, but the exact cause and perpetrator remain uncertain. Musk also drew comparisons between the Truck used in the New Orleans attack and the Cybertruck, which were both rented through Turo.
At around 8:40 a.m. local time, a Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside the Trump International Hotel, resulting in at least one fatality and seven injuries. The truck contained gasoline, camp fuel canisters, and large firework mortars, though the cause of ignition is yet to be determined. Earlier this morning, a rental Ford pickup truck drove into Bourbon Street, New Orleans, resulting in at least 14 fatalities and numerous injuries. The driver, identified as 42-year-old Jabbar, displayed an ISIS flag on the vehicle and carried additional weapons and possible improvised explosive devices. Jabbar acted alone, according to the FBI, who classified the attack as a terrorist act.
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Citations:- CNBC. (2021, October 16). Tesla Cybertruck explosion in Las Vegas leaves one dead after rental vehicle slammed into hotel.- CNBC. (2021, October 15). Authorities responding to explosion in Las Vegas outside Trump hotel.- Reuters. (2021, October 15). Vehicle explosion in front of Trump hotel in Las Vegas kills one and injures seven: Police.- CNBC. (2021, October 15). FBI: Man drove vehicle into crowd on New Orleans' Bourbon Street, 14 dead.- Reuters. (2021, October 15). U.S. official: Explosion outside Trump hotel in Las Vegas not considered attack.- Associated Press. (2021, October 15). Las Vegas police: Tesla Cybertruck explosion kills 1, injures 7.- Reuters. (2021, October 15). U.S. says man drove into crowd on New Orleans' Bourbon Street, multiple dead.- Reuters. (2021, October 15). Driver of vehicle that killed 14 in New Orleans attack acted alone: FBI.
In connection to the investigation of the suspected terrorist incident involving the Tesla Cybertruck explosion outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, Matthew Livelberger's ex-girlfriend, Alicia Arritt, revealed that Livelsberger, the identified driver of the Cybertruck, had expressed signs of depression and isolation following his military deployment in 2019. Additionally, during a press conference, Special Agent in Charge for the FBI's Las Vegas field office, Spencer Evans, suggested that investigators strongly suspected Livelsberger was battling post-traumatic stress disorder.
During Livelsberger's military career, he served alongside Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the suspect responsible for driving into a crowded street in New Orleans, causing at least 14 fatalities on New Year's Day. Both Livelsberger and Jabbar shared military backgrounds and deployments at Fort Bragg and in Afghanistan during the 2000s.
