A Tesla Cybertruck explosion that took place outside the Trump Towers in Las Vegas early Wednesday morning resulting in the death of one person is now under investigation as a potential act of terrorism, revealed law enforcement officials.
FBI agent Jeremy Schwartz, during a press conference on Wednesday evening, reassured the public that there is no immediate threat to the community. He further stated that there is no evidence to suggest that this act was supported or aided by a group of individuals.
The vehicle’s only occupant was killed in the explosion. Additionally, seven people incurred minor injuries, according to Sheriff Kevin McMahill of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. McMahill described this event as a “isolated incident” and dismissed any links to ISIS.
Law enforcement sources disclosed to CBS News that the Cybertruck was leased to Matthew Alan Livelsberger, a U.S. Army servicemember on active duty. Livelsberger, who was serving in Germany, was on leave in Colorado during the incident. Two of Livelsberger’s relatives confirmed that he had rented a Cybertruck. Livelsberger’s wife had not heard from her husband for several days, a relative told CBS News.
McMahill stated that after the explosion, gasoline canisters, camp fuel canisters, and large firework mortars were found in the vehicle. The vehicle had pulled up in front of the building just 15 seconds before the explosion. The method used to ignite the explosives is still unclear.
The truck, rented in Colorado, had arrived in Las Vegas on Wednesday morning. “We have identified the individual who rented the truck and are currently investigating them,” McMahill said, without revealing the person’s identity.
Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley announced that law enforcement would maintain a high level of alertness, with a substantial officer presence expected throughout the city for the next two days.
This explosion happened just hours after a deadly attack in New Orleans where a man drove a pickup truck into a crowd, resulting in at least 15 deaths. Both attacks involved trucks rented from Turo and were perpetrated by U.S.-born military servicemen who served in Afghanistan around the same time. However, President Biden stated that there is no confirmed link between the Las Vegas explosion and the New Orleans attack as of yet.
The Cybertruck, a 2024 model, drove up to the hotel’s glass entrance doors, following which smoke started emerging from it before a large explosion took place. Several videos on social media captured the explosion and the subsequent fire engulfing the Cybertruck.
The Cybertruck appears to have been rented via the Turo app, the same app used by the New Orleans attacker. Turo stated that they are cooperating with law enforcement in the investigation and believe neither renter involved in the Las Vegas and New Orleans attacks had a criminal background that would have flagged them as a security threat.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk, a major donor and close adviser to Trump, stated in a post on X that the Tesla senior team is currently investigating the matter. Musk suggested that the blast may have been caused by fireworks or a bomb in the vehicle and was unrelated to the vehicle itself.
Following the explosion, people were asked to stay away from the Trump Las Vegas hotel, which was evacuated. The hotel is located just off the famous Las Vegas Strip and opposite the Fashion Show Las Vegas shopping mall. The Cybertruck, introduced by Tesla in 2023, ranges in price from about $80,000 to $100,000.