Authorities have identified the deceased driver of a Cybertruck that exploded outside the Trump hotel in Las Vegas as 37-year-old Master Sgt. Matthew Alan Livelsberger. During a press briefing, police confirmed that they require DNA testing to definitively identify him due to the severe condition of his remains, which were “burned beyond recognition” in the blast that occurred on January 1.
Sheriff Kevin McMahill from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police relayed that prior to the explosion, Livelsberger sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. Investigators believe this injury occurred before the vehicle detonated. Inside the Cybertruck, authorities discovered several firearms, fireworks, a military identification card, an iPhone, and various credit cards. Investigators are still working to uncover Livelsberger’s motive.
Livelsberger had a distinguished military career, serving as an active-duty Special Operations soldier in the U.S. Army. Officials noted troubling similarities between him and 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the driver involved in a separate tragic incident in New Orleans on New Year’s Day. Both men had served at Fort Bragg in North Carolina and had participated in deployments to Afghanistan, but there is currently no evidence linking them beyond these parallels. Investigators are actively exploring any connections between the two cases.
Having served in the Army from January 2006 until March 2011, followed by a brief tenure in the National Guard and the Army Reserve, Livelsberger was on authorized leave at the time of the incident. He reportedly undertook five deployments to Afghanistan on combat missions, with his last deployment occurring more than a year prior.
On the day of the explosion, police reported that they retrieved gasoline canisters, camp fuel canisters, and large firework mortars from the vehicle’s interior. The explosion injured seven people and was recorded on video. The Cybertruck was traced back to Colorado, arriving in Las Vegas shortly before the incident. Authorities have described the event as isolated, with the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force involved in determining if it was an act of terrorism.
Despite the tragic and chaotic nature of this incident, it prompts reflection on the mental health challenges faced by individuals with military backgrounds, further highlighting the need for ongoing support for veterans. While this situation is deeply saddening, it serves as an opportunity for communities and institutions to come together to foster dialogue about mental health and the well-being of veterans.