A Tesla truck that exploded in Las Vegas on Wednesday, killing its sole occupant, was rented by Matthew Livelsberger, an active-duty Green Beret with 19 years of service. Livelsberger, a member of the U.S. Army’s elite Special Forces, had multiple combat deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq, Ukraine, and other countries. He was highly decorated, earning a Bronze Star with valor, among other honors.
The vehicle, rented in Colorado, arrived in Las Vegas early in the morning. It was driven up and down the iconic Las Vegas Boulevard before stopping in front of the Trump Hotel around 8:40 a.m. After sitting for about 15 seconds, the truck exploded. Authorities later found gasoline canisters, camp fuel canisters, and large firework mortars inside the vehicle. The explosion killed Livelsberger and injured seven others.
This explosion occurred just hours after a separate deadly attack in New Orleans, involving a truck, which the FBI believes may have been carried out by a lone wolf. Federal authorities are investigating whether there is any connection between the two incidents. The FBI’s joint terrorism task force is handling the Las Vegas investigation.
Livelsberger, who initially enlisted in 2006, served with distinction in multiple dangerous missions before rejoining the active-duty Army in 2012. The Army is now cooperating with federal and state officials investigating the Las Vegas explosion, which is being treated as a potential act of terrorism.
Both the Las Vegas explosion and the New Orleans attack involved vehicles rented through the peer-to-peer service Turo. The Tesla truck involved in the Las Vegas incident was a Cybertruck, Tesla’s first battery-powered truck, which gained attention for its futuristic design and claims of durability.
