Reported Tesla explosion near Trump hotel had gunshot wound to head

The man found dead in the Tesla’s Cybertruck that exploded in front of a hotel in Las Vegas owned by the president-elect of the United States, Donald Trump
, He probably committed suicide, US authorities said Thursday.

The local police chief of Las Vegas (state of Nevada, west), Kevin McMahill, reported that the deceased He had a gunshot wound to the head. Experts believe this suggests that the alleged perpetrator committed suicide before the explosion.

“We discovered through the forensic department that the individual had suffered a gunshot wound to the head before the detonation of the vehicle”, McMahill told reporters. “His charred body was unrecognizable,” the official added.

However, the authorities – who found identification documents at the scene – believe that it is Matthew Alan Livelsberger, a 37-year-old military man originally from Colorado.

“I still do not have 100% confirmation that it is the individual inside the Cybertruck,” warned the police chief of Las Vegas, a city famous for its hotels and casinos.

American media had reported that Livelsberger rented the Tesla Cybertruck, although authorities have not yet confirmed this version.

Images on social networks had shown last Wednesday the explosion of a parked Cybertruck vehicle in front of the hotel entrance where the name “Trump” is seen on the facade. Seven injuries were also reported due to the explosion.

According to authorities, the motives for committing this act remain “unknown.” “We have no information that allows us to say with certainty or suggest that he was motivated by any particular ideology,” FBI Special Agent Spencer Evans told reporters.

Special forces member

“The US Army Special Operations Command can confirm that Livelsberger was assigned to the command and was on approved leave at the time of his death,” a military spokesman said.

According to the spokesperson, Matthew Alan Livelsberger was a member of the special forces and “was on leave at the time of his death” on Wednesday when the vehicle detonated.

Livelsberger was a decorated military man, who enlisted in 2006 and served in the Army until 2011, before joining the National Guard, then the Army Reserve, and finally joining the special forces in 2012.

In the rented Tesla vehicle, authorities found “two semi-automatic handguns purchased legally on December 30, 2024 by Livelsberger, according to Kenny Cooper, from the ATF federal agency, in charge of firearms control.

One of the weapons was found at the foot of the individual’s body in the vehicle, according to authorities.

Tesla boss, billionaire Elon Musk, is an ally of President-elect Donald Trump, who nominated him to lead a public spending reduction commission in his future administration.

The attack occurred hours after a man ran over a crowd with a truck in the city of New Orleans (state of Louisiana, south). The attack left 14 dead and more than 30 injured.

The suspect in that attack is a former US military officer identified as Shamsud Din Jabbar, who in several videos had expressed his support for the Islamic State group (IS) and said he had joined that jihadist organization, according to the FBI (federal police).

There is currently no information that indicates a connection between the suspect in the Las Vegas explosion, Matthew Alan Livelsberger, with “any terrorist organization” in the world, agent Spencer Evans also said.

Asked if the explosion in Las Vegas is considered a suicidal act, Sheriff McMahill responded: “I have no problem calling him suicidal.” considering that the explosion occurred immediately afterwards.”

The FBI also said this Thursday that “there was no irrefutable link” between the two events.