A U.S. Army Green Beret was the driver of a Tesla Cybertruck that exploded outside of Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas on Wednesday, officials confirmed to local news outlets.
The man, identified by officials as Master Sgt. Matthew Alan Livelsberger, 37, died at the scene. Seven other people sustained minor injuries in the blast, said Kevin McMahill, sheriff of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.
Livelsberger allegedly drove the 2024 Cybertruck to the front of the hotel after 8 a.m. on Wednesday, pulling into a space directly in front of the entrance doors. Smoke started emanating from the truck just before the large blast blew it apart, McMahill said. Firework mortars and camp fuel canisters were found inside the vehicle.
“We have now confirmed that the explosion was caused by very large fireworks and/or a bomb carried in the bed of the rented Cybertruck and is unrelated to the vehicle itself,” Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, said Wednesday on X.
Jeremy Schwartz, acting special agent in charge for the FBI’s Las Vegas office, said the agency was working to determine whether the blast was an act of terrorism.
Livelsberger was a special forces operations sergeant assigned to the 10th Special Forces Group in Stuttgart, Germany, an Army spokesperson said. U.S. Special Operations Command confirmed Thursday he was on approved leave at the time of the Las Vegas explosion.
He served a total of 19 years. Livelsberger enlisted in the Army as a special forces candidate in January 2006, an Army spokesperson said. He remained on active duty until March 2011, at which point he joined the Army National Guard. He switched to the Army Reserve in July 2012 and then reentered active duty in December 2012.
Livelsberger deployed twice to Afghanistan and served in Ukraine, Tajikistan, Georgia and Congo, the Army said. He was awarded two Bronze Stars, including one with a valor device for courage under fire, a Combat Infantry Badge and an Army Commendation Medal with valor.