Tesla Cybertruck Explosion in Las Vegas: Suspect Shot in the Head, City Sheriff Evokes Possible Suicide

This Wednesday, January 1st, a Cybertruck, a pickup truck marketed by Tesla, exploded in front of the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas. While the identity of the suspect has not yet been confirmed by DNA analysis, the identity card and bank details of a former soldier were found in the vehicle. The man had a gunshot wound to the head, suggesting suicide.

The suspect in the explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck outside a hotel owned by President-elect Donald Trump in Las Vegas on Wednesday, Jan. 1, had a gunshot wound to the head, the Las Vegas sheriff announced Thursday.

“We have learned through the medical examiner's office that the individual had sustained a gunshot wound to the head prior to the explosion of the vehicle,”, Las Vegas Sheriff Kevin McMahill said, suggesting suicide but adding that the body has yet to be formally identified.

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The identity of the suspect has yet to be determined through DNA

However, on Thursday, January 2, according to CBS, the FBI announced that the military ID, passport and credit cards had been found. All in the name of Matthew Alan Livelsberger, 37, a U.S. Army Special Forces intelligence sergeant in Germany, but currently on leave in Colorado Springs.

In an interview with British media outlet The Independent, Matthew’s uncle Dean describes him as “a very, very patriotic soldier” who “loved Trump” and “had patriotic posts on Facebook,” but said he was unaware of his nephew’s involvement until the interview.

Before DNA identification to confirm or deny the identity of the suspect, the media also indicates that police sources say the man was on leave in Colorado Springs, where the Cybertruck was rented. His relatives confirmed to CBS that Matthew had indeed rented a Cybertruck while a relative said his wife had not heard from him in several days.

Unknown Motives

For the time being, the suspect's motivations are not yet known to investigators. “The motives remain unknown at this point. […] We do not have information that allows us to state with certainty or suggest that it was motivated by a particular ideology,” FBI agent Spencer Evans said at a press conference.