The motivations of the explosion suspect remain unknown at this time, said Spencer Evans, an FBI agent, during a press conference
The man who was in the Tesla vehicle that caught fire in front of United States President-elect Donald Trump’s hotel in Las Vegas was shot in the head before the explosion, police authorities revealed today.
Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill explained at a press conference that a gun was found at the feet of the man identified as Matthew Livelsberger. Authorities believe the gunshot was self-inflicted.
The motivations of the explosion suspect remain unknown at this time, said Spencer Evans, an FBI agent, during a press conference.
“We do not have information that allows us to say with certainty or suggest that this was motivated by a particular ideology,” he further highlighted.
Livelsberger served in the Green Berets [Green Berets, em inglês]highly trained special forces that work to combat terrorism abroad and train partners from other countries, the US Army detailed in a statement.
This soldier has served in the Army since 2006, rising through the ranks with a long career in missions abroad, deploying twice in Afghanistan and serving in Ukraine, Tajikistan, Georgia and Congo, according to the same source.
He received two Bronze Stars, including one for valor, for courage under fire, a Combat Infantry Badge, and an Army Commendation Medal for valor. Livelsberger was on approved leave when he died, according to the military.
The FBI (federal police) had mentioned today, in a post on the social network X, that it was “carrying out police investigations” at a house in Colorado Springs, related to Wednesday’s explosion, but did not provide other details.
The vehicle was loaded with gas and camping fuel cylinders and high-caliber pyrotechnic mortars, according to Las Vegas police.
The incident occurred hours after Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar, 42, ran into a crowd in New Orleans’ famous French Quarter early on New Year’s Day, killing at least 15 people before being shot dead by police. This incident is being investigated as a terrorist attack.
The FBI emphasized today that it believes Jabbar acted alone, reversing its position from the previous day that he likely worked with others.
Both Livelsberger and Jabbar spent time at the base formerly known as Fort Bragg, a massive Army base in North Carolina that houses several Army special operations units.
However, one of the officials who spoke to the Associated Press (AP) said there is no overlap in their duties at the base, now called Fort Liberty.
Chris Raia, deputy assistant director of the FBI, assured today that authorities found “no definitive link” between the attack in New Orleans and the truck explosion in Las Vegas.
Seven people nearby suffered minor injuries when the Tesla truck exploded.
The Cybertruck was rented in Colorado through the Turo platform (a private rental system similar to the local accommodation platform Airbnb), just like the van used in the New Orleans collision, which occurred on New Year’s Eve, the company confirmed in a statement.
Authorities know who rented the truck with the Turo app in Colorado, said Kevin McMahill, the elected sheriff of Clark County, which includes Las Vegas, on Wednesday, without disclosing the person’s identity, however.
