Share and Follow
Investigators have yet to determine what drove an active-duty U.S. Army soldier to rent a Tesla Cybertruck and drive it to the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, where he appeared to shoot himself in the head before the vehicle exploded on New Year’s Day.
Las Vegas Sheriff Kevin McMahill identified 37-year-old Matthew Livelsberger of Colorado Springs, Colorado as a person of interest in the matter, though he would not go as far as to say with 100% certainty that he is a suspect until DNA matches the remains of a body that was in the Cybertruck with Livelsberger.
At about 8:40 a.m., the truck was seen pulling up to the valet entrance of the hotel before stopping. Seventeen seconds later, the vehicle blew up and fireworks could be heard shooting from the bulletproof truck.
Along with fireworks, McMahill said the truck contained camping fuel and gasoline. The explosion did not damage the body of the truck, other than to the glass and bed cover, the sheriff noted.

Investigators are looking at the content inside a Tesla Cybertruck, which blew up in front of the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas on New Year’s Day. (Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Press Conference)
“Matt was a very skilled warrior, and he would be able to make – if it was him, and if he did this – he would’ve been able to make a more sophisticated explosive than using propane tanks and camping fuel,” he reportedly said. “He was what you might call a ‘supersoldier.’ If you ever read about the things he was awarded, and the experience he had, some of it doesn’t make sense, when he had the skills and ability to make something more, let’s say, ‘efficient.’ His skills were enormous from what he had been taught in the military.”
With those skills, Dean said, Livelsberger “could have fashioned a bomb that would have obliterated half of that hotel if he seriously wanted to hurt others.”
Livelsberger was a Green Beret operations sergeant who spent most of his time at Fort Carson, Colorado, and in Germany. McMahill said Livelsberger was approved leave from Germany, where he was serving with the special forces group. He also previously served in the National Guard and Army Reserve.
He also received several awards and honors while serving in the U.S. Army.
U.S. Army Public Affairs told Fox News that Livelsberger has earned the Bronze Star Medal with Valor; Bronze Star Medal four times; Meritorious Service Medal; Army Commendation Medal with Valor; Army Commendation Medal three times; Army Achievement Medal two times; Army Good Conduct Medal five times; National Defense Service Medal; Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star three times; Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal; Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon three times; Army Service Ribbon; Overseas Service Ribbon; NATO Medal two times; Special Forces Tab; Combat Infantryman Badge; Parachutist Badge; and Freefall Badge.
Fox News Digital’s Sarah Rumpf-Whitten and The Associated Press contributed to this report.