Matthew Livelsberger, the individual responsible for the New Year’s Day Tesla Cybertruck explosion outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, left behind his phone, which contained two letters. These letters expressed his frustrations with the current political climate in the United States.
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Livelsberger,37, reportedly suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder and depression during his service in the Army. According to ABC News, he was deemed fit to return home for the holidays while on leave from his station in Germany. In the letters, he expressed his discontent with what he viewed as “weak” leadership and individuals being driven by self-interest, though he emphasized that the act he committed was not meant as terrorism.
The combat veteran died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound before the explosion, and authorities believe he acted alone. The blast injured seven bystanders, but there were no fatalities. Investigators tracked Livelsberger’s movements using Tesla charging station logs, which showed a route from Colorado Springs to Las Vegas.
During a press conference, Las Vegas Sheriff Kevin McMahill said Livelsberger sought to capture public attention rather than cause harm.
BI Special Agent Spencer Evans described the incident as “a tragic case of suicide involving a decorated combat veteran battling internal demons.” The explosion has drawn comparisons to a New Orleans truck attack occurring on the same day, but authorities dismissed direct links, citing “coincidental similarities.”
