ABC News - LIVE: Las Vegas Officials hold news conference on Tesla Cybertruck explosion outside Trump hotel
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, in collaboration with the FBI and ATF, is investigating a Cyber truck explosion at the Trump Hotel. The incident involved a 37-year-old military member, Matthew Livelsberger, whose body was found burnt beyond recognition inside the vehicle. Authorities discovered military identification, firearms, fireworks, and electronic devices in the truck. The investigation is complicated by a gunshot wound found on the body, suggesting a possible suicide. The FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force is involved to determine any potential threats or connections to other incidents, particularly a similar event in New Orleans. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities tracking the subject's movements from Colorado to Las Vegas and examining his military background. The ATF is analyzing the explosive components, primarily consumer-grade fireworks and fuel enhancers, to understand the explosion's mechanics. The investigation aims to confirm the subject's identity through DNA and explore any links to terrorist groups, though none have been found so far.
Key Points:
- Authorities are investigating a Cyber truck explosion at the Trump Hotel, involving a military member.
- The subject, Matthew Livelsberger, was found with a gunshot wound, suggesting possible suicide.
- Military identification, firearms, and fireworks were found in the vehicle, complicating the investigation.
- The FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force is involved to explore potential connections to other incidents.
- The ATF is analyzing the explosive components, primarily consumer-grade fireworks and fuel enhancers.
Details:
1. 🚓 Sheriff McMahill's Update on Cybertruck Explosion
- Sheriff Kevin McMahill from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department provided an update on a Cybertruck explosion at the Trump Hotel on Las Vegas Boulevard.
- The incident occurred yesterday, and the police have been actively working on the case without interruption.
- No casualties have been reported in the explosion, and the area has been secured to prevent further incidents.
- Investigators are analyzing surveillance footage and gathering evidence to determine the cause of the explosion.
- The Cybertruck involved in the incident is a high-profile vehicle, drawing attention due to its association with Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk.
2. 🔍 Investigation Findings & Key Evidence
- The investigation into the Cyber truck is a collaborative effort involving the FBI, ATF, and Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, indicating a high-profile and serious case.
- Significant evidence has been found overnight by the investigation team, which is crucial to the case's progress.
- The Cyber truck had to be transported to Fleet Services for thorough examination, highlighting the complexity and importance of the investigation.
- The subject inside the Cyber truck was burnt beyond recognition and could not be removed for an extended period, which presents challenges in identifying the victim.
3. 🧑 Identity Challenges & Initial Conclusions
- Military identification, a passport, and multiple firearms including a Desert Eagle 50 caliber semi-automatic pistol were found in the Cyber truck, indicating potential military involvement or background.
- An iPhone, a smartwatch, and several credit cards belonging to 37-year-old Matthew Livelsberger from Colorado Springs were discovered in the vehicle, pointing towards his possible identity or connection to the vehicle.
- The body found in the vehicle is burnt beyond recognition, making it difficult to confirm 100% that it is Matthew Livelsberger, which adds complexity to the identity verification process.
- The presence of varied high-value items and the condition of the body suggest potential foul play or a deliberate attempt to obscure identity, necessitating further forensic analysis and investigation.
4. 🔎 Investigation Progress: Military Links & Movement
4.1. Subject Identification
4.2. Movement Tracking
4.3. Implications and Military Links
5. 🗺️ Tracking Cybertruck's Journey & Surveillance
- The subject is a Green Beret operations Sergeant currently serving and has previously been part of the National Guard and Army Reserve.
- Both subjects related to the investigation served at Fort Bragg, although they were not in the same unit or time frame.
- In 2009, both subjects were deployed in Afghanistan but not in the same province, location, or unit.
- The subject rented a Cybertruck for his journey from Colorado to Las Vegas using Turo, a vehicle-sharing service.
- His journey was taken during approved leave from his service with the 10th Special Forces Group in Germany.
6. 🚔 Surveillance Strategies & Public Safety
- Tesla charging stations were utilized to track the truck's movements, demonstrating effective technological integration in surveillance.
- The truck was monitored across states like Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona, highlighting the extensive reach of surveillance systems.
- Precise timestamps and locations were captured, such as the truck's presence in Las Vegas at 7:29 a.m., illustrating the accuracy of tracking methods.
- Video footage of the truck at key locations, such as the Trump valet, underscored the importance of visual evidence in comprehensive surveillance.
- The explosion's occurrence within 17 seconds of the truck's arrival at the valet emphasized the critical need for timely surveillance interventions.
7. 🕵️♂️ FBI's Involvement & Key Discoveries
7.1. FBI's Investigative Actions
7.2. Public's Role in Investigation
8. 🧨 ATF's Role: Explosive Analysis & Firearms
- The ATF received thousands of tips concerning the incident, highlighting the challenge of sorting verified information from unverified data.
- The public is encouraged to provide more information via 1-800-CALL-FBI or tips.fbi.gov to aid in the investigation.
- The ATF is applying its expertise in post-blast investigations and crime gun intelligence to support the investigation.
- Special agent bomb technicians from the ATF are working with the FBI and Las Vegas Metro to analyze post-blast debris for leads.
- Identified components include consumer-grade fireworks and fuel enhancers, with no commercial-grade materials found.
- Two semi-automatic handguns were recovered from a Tesla associated with the incident.