LAS VEGAS (KVVU/Gray News) – The man who died in a Tesla Cybertruck packed with explosives, injuring seven people outside a Trump hotel was a US Army soldier, according to officials.
The explosion happened outside of Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas on Wednesday.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department told KVVU that multiple agencies are investigating a possible connection between this incident and the terror attack in New Orleans that killed 15 people.
According to police, the explosion occurred in the valet area of the hotel around 8:40 a.m. after the car pulled in.
Several fireworks and gas canisters were found inside the vehicle, which did not explode.
The fire was put out by Clark County firefighters, but sources add that the suspect’s body was so badly burned that they could not immediately identify them.
UMC Hospital said they treated two of the seven injured people from the explosion, and both have been released.
During a press conference, LVMPD Sheriff Kevin McMahill shared that the suspect was inside the vehicle and died in the explosion. McMahill also shared that they are looking for secondary devices and “taking it slow” in their search.
Guests staying on the property and surrounding hotels said they could hear a large explosion that was notably louder than fireworks.
Video showed massive plumes of smoke coming from the entrance of the hotel.
Oscar Terol who was visiting from Spain, said he was in the lobby when the explosion happened.
“The moment we were in the lobby about to turn the rotating doors, the explosion happened, we saw the Cybertruck there, and in a split second, ‘Boom!’ The first one super big,” Terol said. “We both fell. My wife was before me, and lots of explosions afterward.”
Guests staying at the hotel said they were not allowed to leave the lobby while the fire was active, but were later moved to a Resorts World Ballroom.
Eric Trump, the son of President-elect Donald Trump, expressed his gratitude for local law enforcement’s response in a post on X.
Also on X, Elon Musk added that Tesla’s senior team is investigating the incident, saying, “We’ve never seen anything like this.”
Musk said Cybertruck was rented from Turo, and the explosion was caused by a very large bomb or firework, unrelated to the vehicle.
Around 10:15 p.m., police had the Cybertruck towed away from the front of the hotel.
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