LAS VEGAS (KVVU/Gray News) – Las Vegas police updated their investigation on Friday into the New Year’s Day Cybertruck explosion that occurred in front of the Trump hotel.
The explosion happened that morning in the valet area of the hotel where the driver died and several others were left injured.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and the Clark County coroner identified the driver as Matthew Livelsberger. He died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill said the other people injured that day have since been released from the hospital.
According to the Clark County coroner, it was a challenge to identify Livelsberger’s body as it was “burnt beyond recognition.”
He was an active-duty soldier from Colorado Springs.
McMahill said the department continues to work to find the possible motive behind the explosion but shared some ideas based on a diary-type journal that was found on one of Livelsberger’s phones in the Cybertruck.
Police said one of the notes found read in part:
“Time to wake up! We are being led by weak and feckless leadership who only serve to enrich themselves. Try peaceful means first, but be prepared to fight to get the Dems out of the fed government and military by any means necessary. They all must go and a hard reset must occur for our country to avoid collapse.”
Police said they are also working to gain access to Livelsberger’s other phone and laptop found.
According to McMahill, they were able to further identify Livelsberger as the suspect through additional photos and help from his wife. Police shared photos of another tattoo on his body and him wearing a distinct brown jacket while using the Cybertruck.
A forensic investigation into the Cybertruck that Livelsberger rented from Turo in Denver on Dec. 28, 2024, located his military IDs, passport, and several guns. Police tracked the vehicle’s movements through Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Nevada, using data from Tesla charging stations.
McMahill said the department does not know why Livelsberger chose Las Vegas and specifically the Trump hotel, but evidence indicated a location in the Grand Canyon was considered.
Police said the diary on one phone started Dec. 21 of last year to Jan. 1. It matched the route he took with the Cybertruck and detailed the firearms he purchased along with camping equipment.
The FBI said Livelsberger legally purchased two firearms on Dec. 27, 2024, in Colorado and picked them up three days later.
LVMPD said they received further help from Tesla. An SDMI chip confirmed that the Tesla was never in self-driving mode while Livelsberger had the truck.
Police said Livelsberger did not have a criminal history but suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, personal grievances and family factors from what was found in his notes.
According to authorities, his plans were “thoughtfully prepared.”
The explosion happened only hours after another driver, 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar, drove a truck into a crowd in New Orleans.
Authorities said they found no telephone or email communication between the two and they were never assigned at the same time during military service.
“This is a tragic case of suicide,” FBI agents said.
Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALLFBI or online at tips.fbi.gov
Copyright 2025 KVVU via Gray Local Media, Inc. All rights reserved.