The explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck that caused fire at the entrance of the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas last 1 January is being investigated as a possible terrorist act, according to a law enforcement official who has been briefed on the investigation.
However, a note left behind on an iPhone has revealed a partial motive and a suspect: Matthew Livelsberger. He was identified as the person who blew himself with the Cybertruck.
At a news conference, Las Vegas Sheriff Kevin McMahill said a vehicle fire was reported at the hotel just after 8:40 A.M. Crews arrived to find a 2024 Cybertruck engulfed in flames, he said.
"There is one deceased individual inside the Cybertruck and I don’t know whether it is a male or a female at this time," McMahill said.
Seven other victims sustained what McMahill described as "minor" injuries as a result of the explosion.
Jeremy Schwartz, acting special agent in charge of the FBI in Las Vegas, also confirmed that his team is involved in the investigation.
In a post on X, Elon Musk wrote Tesla is also launching its own investigation.
"The whole Tesla senior team is investigating this matter right now," Musk wrote. "We’ve never seen anything like this."
Eric Trump, executive vice president of the Trump organization, also posted on X that the "safety and well-being of our guests and staff remain our top priority."
"We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Las Vegas Fire Department and local law enforcement for their swift response and professionalism," Trump wrote.
The 37-year-old Green Beret, who the FBI says suffered from post traumatic stress disorder, had "no animosity" for Trump and wrote that the explosion was "not a terrorist attack."
Livelsberger did make clear that he was displeased with the state of the country.
"This was not a terrorist attack, it was a wake up call," he wrote. "Americans only pay attention to spectacles and violence. What better way to get my point across than a stunt with fireworks and explosives?"
An ex-girlfriend of Livelsberger told The Washington Post he suffered a traumatic brain injury while deployed overseas that left him suffering from "a cloudy memory, poor concentration, difficulty maintaining relationships, and intense guilt over his actions on the battlefield."