1 dead, 7 injured in Tesla fire, explosion at Las Vegas Trump International Hotel in 'intentional' act
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) -- One person is dead and seven others are injured following the explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck at the main entrance to the Las Vegas Trump International Hotel on Wednesday morning.
The act was intentional, police said, adding the back of the car contained gas canisters and fireworks. Video shows the vehicle parked next to the hotel's front doors as it explodes into flames.
The car was rented in Colorado Springs, Colorado, through Turo, a carsharing company, sources told 8 News Now.
The new year was barely eight hours old when Clark County firefighters and Las Vegas Metropolitan police responded to the explosion and fire around 8:40 a.m. in the 2000 block of Fashion Show Drive, across from Fashion Show Mall and just west of the Las Vegas Strip.
During a news conference Wednesday afternoon, Sheriff Kevin McMahill said police found gas canisters, camping fuel, and large firework mortars in the bed of the truck after the fire was extinguished.
Police did not find any devices that would have been used to ignite the explosion in the truck and are unsure at this time how it ignited, McMahill said.
Police have identified the person who rented the truck but were not ready to release the name as of Wednesday evening. Social posts including a person's name were incorrect, a source told 8 News Now.
Police tracked the truck through cameras at Tesla charging stations and found that it arrived in Las Vegas around 7:30 a.m. The truck then drove up and down Las Vegas Boulevard for about an hour before pulling into the Trump Hotel entrance. The truck sat in front of the hotel for about 15-20 seconds before it exploded, McMahill said.
Both the Tesla Cybertruck that exploded in Las Vegas and the pickup truck used in New Orleans to ram into revelers, killing 15, were rented from Turo, McMahill stated during the news conference.
Turo released the following statement after both incidents:
We are heartbroken by the violence perpetrated in New Orleans and Las Vegas, and our prayers are with the victims and families. We are actively partnering with law enforcement authorities as they investigate both incidents. We do not believe that either renter involved in the Las Vegas and New Orleans attacks had a criminal background that would have identified them as a security threat. We remain committed to maintaining the highest standards in risk management, thanks to our world-class trust and safety technologies and teams that include experienced former law enforcement professionals.
Turo Spokesperson
The FBI was determining if the explosion was a terrorist attack however, he said they believed this was an isolated incident and that there was no threat to the public, FBI Acting Special-Agent-In-Charge Jeremy Schwartz said.
"We do not believe there are a bunch of folks out there supporting this or helping this or there any danger to the community right now," Schwartz said.
When asked if this explosion had any links to ISIS, McMahill said there was no indication that there was a connection in Las Vegas.
"No overt ISIS flag as seen in New Orleans but again we are investigating every aspect of this," McMahill said.
When asked about the connection between the vehicle used and the location of the explosion, McMahill acknowledged that there is some concern regarding the connection.
"It's a Tesla truck and we know that Elon Musk is working with President-elect Trump and it's the Trump Tower so there's obviously things to be concerned about there and it's something we continue to look at," McMahill said.
McMahill also thanked Musk for his help with the investigation.
“He gave us quite a bit of additional information into how the vehicle was locked after it exploded due to the nature of the force from the explosion.”
Of the seven people who were injured, two were transported to UMC for treatment. McMahill said all the injuries were minor and everyone was treated and released by Wednesday evening.
McMahill authorized LVMPD's New Year's Eve staffing plan to continue for the next two days. The plan includes over 1,000 officers staffed in local communities and along the Las Vegas Strip to ensure that if there is a copycat or another attack they have the appropriate resources.
The sound of explosions followed by smoke raised concern for people staying at or near the hotel. One witness, who asked to remain anonymous and was staying at Resorts World on the Las Vegas Strip, said he heard several loud booms.
"It was shaking the glass it was so loud," he said. "I looked out and see smoke and me and my wife booked it out of there," he said.
Guests who were in the process of checking out of the hotel were seen with their luggage walking along the sidewalk. Police said the hotel was eventually evacuated and guests were taken to Resorts World while the investigation is underway.
Guests told 8 News Now that the evacuation was chaotic and it appeared there wasn't an evacuation plan in place.
This is a joint investigation with federal, state, and local authorities.
Fashion Show Drive in both directions from Sammy Davis Jr. Drive to Las Vegas Boulevard reopened to traffic shortly before 11 p.m. on Wednesday, according to RTC of Southern Nevada.