(CLO) Authorities said Thursday that a US soldier from Colorado was likely inside a Tesla Cybertruck that exploded outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, killing him and slightly injuring seven others.
The FBI says it has so far found no definitive link between the New Orleans truck attack on New Year's Day that killed 15 people and the Cybertruck explosion the same day. It's not yet clear whether the Las Vegas explosion was an act of terrorism, the FBI says.
Authorities believe Matthew Livelsberger, a 37-year-old active duty U.S. soldier from Colorado Springs, was inside the vehicle when large tanks of gasoline and fireworks in the truck's bed exploded.
They believe he acted alone. The body was burned beyond recognition and investigators are awaiting confirmation from DNA evidence and medical records.
Tesla explodes outside building. Photo: GI/Antunes
The man in the Cybertruck shot himself in the head just before the explosives in the vehicle detonated, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Chief Kevin McMahill said at a news conference. A handgun was found at his feet.
It was one of two semi-automatic pistols found in the Cybertruck, both of which Livelsberger had legally purchased on December 30. Law enforcement also found military identification, a passport, an iPhone, and credit cards in the truck.
Livelsberger was assigned to the Army Special Operations Command and was on leave at the time of the incident, according to a US Army official.
Series of photos of authorities examining the burned car:
Photo: Las Vegas Police
Photo: Las Vegas Police
Photo: Las Vegas Police
A US official said Livelsberger was awarded the Bronze Star medal for valor, along with the Combat Infantryman Badge. He completed five combat deployments to Afghanistan.
Livelsberger graduated from Bucyrus High School in 2005, according to local media. Relatives said he left school immediately after graduation to join the military. Las Vegas Police Chief McMahill said Livelsberger did not appear to have a criminal record.
Videos of the incident show the Cybertruck exploding and flames erupting from inside while it was parked in front of the Trump International Hotel at around 8:40 a.m. local time on Wednesday.
The Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas is part of the Trump Organization, the conglomerate of Mr. Trump, who will return to the White House on January 20. Tesla CEO Elon Musk is a major supporter of Mr. Trump in his 2024 presidential campaign and will also be an adviser to the incoming president.
Portrait of the suspect. Photo: Las Vegas Police
Police said Livelsberger rented the Cybertruck in Denver on December 28 and stopped in several cities including Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Flagstaff, Arizona, before arriving in Las Vegas early Wednesday morning.
The truck drove along the city's Strip, a strip of hotels and casinos, through the driveway of the Trump International Hotel and then back into the parking lot. The Trump International Hotel was evacuated and most of its guests were moved to another hotel.
Sheriff McMahill said both the Cybertruck and the vehicle used in the New Orleans attack were rented through the car-sharing service Turo.
Huy Hoang (according to LVP, FBI, Reuters)
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/doi-tuong-cho-no-xe-tesla-cybertruck-ben-ngoai-khach-san-trump-international-co-the-la-linh-my-post328774.html
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