BUCYRUS — A man suspected of renting a Tesla Cybertruck that exploded outside the Las Vegas Trump Hotel on New Year’s Day is a Bucyrus High School graduate, according to police.
Matthew Alan Livelsberger, whose age has been reported as 37, graduated from Bucyrus High School in 2005 and immediately left the area to join the U.S. Army, according to Bucyrus police.
Livelsberger reportedly killed himself before the explosion and likely planned to cause more damage but the explosive was rudimentary and the steel-sided vehicle absorbed much of the force, officials said Thursday, according to the Associated Press.
Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill said at a news conference a handgun was found at the feet of the man, who officials believe was Livelsberger. Officials believe the shot was self-inflicted.
Damage from the blast was mostly limited to the interior of the truck. The blast “vented out and up” and didn’t hit the Trump hotel doors just a few feet away, the sheriff said.
“The level of sophistication is not what we would expect from an individual with this type of military experience,” said Kenny Cooper, a special agent in charge for the the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
According to published accounts, Livelsberger played football and baseball while attending Bucyrus High School. He was reportedly an active duty soldier on leave.
He reportedly graduated from basic training at Fort Benning, Ga., according to a story attributed to the Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum. The T-F reported he graduated from the U.S. Army Special Forces qualification course at Fort Bragg, N.C.
Officials from the U.S. Army sent the following statement to the media on Thursday morning, regarding Livelsberger’s enlistment.
“Master Sgt. Matthew Alan Livelsberger enlisted as an 18X and served in the active duty Army from January 2006 to March 2011. Livelsberger then joined the National Guard from March 2011 to July 2012, followed by the Army Reserve from July 2012 to December 2012. He entered the active duty Army in December 2012 and was a U.S. Army Special Operations Soldier.”
“Additionally, U.S. Army Special Operations Command can confirm Livelsberger was assigned to the command and on approved leave at the time of his death. USASOC is in full cooperation with federal and state law enforcement agencies, but as a matter of policy, will not comment on ongoing investigations.”
Las Vegas police said the Tesla Cybertruck, rented in Colorado where Livelsberger was reportedly living, drove up and down Las Vegas Boulevard before pulling in front of the Trump Hotel at 8:40 a.m.
The vehicle exploded 15 to 20 seconds later, police said.
Federal authorities were searching his Colorado Springs home on Thursday morning, according to police.
Video played at a news conference showed a load of fireworks-style mortars, gasoline cans and camping fuel canisters in the back of the truck, according to published reports.
According to ABC News, Livelsberger’s wife told investigators that he had been out of the house since Christmas after a domestic argument. She told officials she didn’t believe he would want to hurt anyone.
Two firearms — a rifle and a handgun — were found burned inside the vehicle, according to media accounts.