Cybertruck ‘bomber’ Matthew Livelsberger shot himself in head before Tesla blew up outside Las Vegas Trump hotel
THE suspected Cybertruck bomber Matthew Livelsberger shot himself in the head before the Tesla blew up.
The car burst into flames outside the Trump hotel in Las Vegas just hours after an attack in New Orleans and is being investigated as an “act of terror.”
A handgun was found at his feet and officials believe the shot was self-inflicted, AP reports.
Officers also found a passport, iPhone, and more firearms and said the body is too burned to be identified visually.
Livelsberger, 37, is thought to have driven up to the Trump International Hotel just before 9 am on January 1.
Surveillance footage showed the EV burst into flames with him inside, sending shards of glass and metal flying at screaming pedestrians.
Loud bangs can be heard throughout the short video as black smoke fills the air.
Cops believe Livelsberger drove from his home in Colorado Springs, Colorado, to the hotel for the attack.
They raided his home later on New Year’s Day and are investigating whether the brazen crime was an “act of terror.”
The suspect was serving as a Special Forces operations sergeant in Germany but was on leave at the time on the attack.
The truck was also thoroughly checked after the flames were extinguished with cops discovering fireworks, gas tanks, and camping fuel.
These were all connected to a detonation system controlled by the driver, CNN reports.
Newly unearthed videos show Livelsberger smiling with his allegedly proud anti-Trump wife years before the massive blast.
Livelsberger’s family members told CBS News that his wife hadn’t heard from him in the days before he turned up dead.
They were unaware of his alleged involvement in the explosion but confirmed he had rented a Tesla Cybertruck.
Tesla chief Elon Musk soon commented on the incident as he took to X to confirm the blast wasn’t caused by the Cybertruck itself but instead due to “very large fireworks and/or a bomb”.
The billionaire tech mogul added his team has “never seen anything like this” happen to a Tesla.
Investigators are yet to confirm any potential relationship or connections between the Las Vegas blast and the New Orleans attack.
But Joe Biden confirmed federal law enforcement are investigating the possibility.
Musk claimed the Cybertruck and the Ford pickup used in New Orleans had both been rented by the same company.
He posted on his X platform: “Appears likely to be an act of terrorism.
“Both this Cybertruck and the F-150 suicide bomb in New Orleans were rented from Turo. Perhaps they are linked in some way.”
On Thursday, investigators revealed the attacker was burnt beyond recognition and that the corpse couldn’t be removed from the car.
Investigators believe they’ve identified him through his tattoos but are awaiting DNA confirmation to be sure.
Blast hours after New Orleans
The attack ignited fresh fear across the country as it came just hours after Army veteran Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar murdered 14 partygoers in New Orleans.
He slammed his truck into a crowd ringing in the New Year on Bourbon Street at 3:15 am and placed two bombs in the famous French Quarter.
Jabbar was quickly killed by police in a shootout after the sick spree, and officials have since confirmed he was an ISIS member who wanted to kill his entire family.
Cops said on Thursday that they hadn’t found any “definite link” between the two attacks but they’re continuing to investigate.
Jabbar was living in Texas at the time of his death, and family members said he was an Islam convert, The New York Times reported.
In a bone-chilling twist, law enforcement said Jabbar and Livelsberger both were once stationed at Fort Liberty in North Carolina.
They were also in Afghanistan at the same time though it’s unclear if they ever crossed paths in person.
US Army statement on Livelsberger
In a statement, the US Army released Matthew Livelsberger’s service record.
Livelsberger served at the same base as the New Orleans suspect Shamsud Din Jabbar.
They said: “Master Sgt. Matthew Alan Livelsberger enlisted as an 18X and served in the active duty Army from January 2006 to March 2011.
“Livelsberger then joined the National Guard from March 2011 to July 2012, followed by the Army Reserve from July 2012 to December 2012.
“He entered the active duty Army in December 2012 and was a U.S. Army Special Operations Soldier.
“Additionally, U.S. Army Special Operations Command can confirm Livelsberger was assigned to the command and on approved leave at the time of his death.
“USASOC is in full cooperation with federal and state law enforcement agencies, but as a matter of policy, will not comment on ongoing investigations.
“Livelsberger’s awards include the Bronze Star Medal with Valor, Bronze Star Medal x 4, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with Valor, Army Commendation Medal x 3, Army Achievement Medal x 2, Army Good Conduct Medal x 5, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star x 3, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon x 3, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, NATO Medal x 2, Special Forces Tab, Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, and Freefall Badge.”