Matthew Livelsberger, the man who was inside a Tesla Cybertruck that exploded outside President-elect Donald Trump‘s hotel in Las Vegas, was previously charged with two misdemeanors, according to documents obtained by Newsweek.
The Context
Authorities said one person died inside the truck and seven more suffered from minor injuries due to the fire that erupted in the hotel’s valet area around 8:40 a.m. local time. Firework mortars and camp fuel canisters were later found stuffed into the back of the vehicle.
Authorities said at a news conference Thursday that Livelsberger shot himself in the head before the Cybertruck explosion.
People who commit crimes, even as large as the Cybertruck explosion, may not always be on police radar. While some crimes lead to the authorities being alerted, others, like misdemeanors, may not raise red flags. That said, predictive policing and crime analysis have helped the police in the past with potential offenders.
What To Know
Livelsberger, 37, lived in Colorado Springs prior to the explosion, but when he was in Ohio in 2011, he was charged with two misdemeanors.
According to documents obtained by Newsweek, Livelsberger got a ticket for speeding in Franklin County, Ohio. The first offense was not provided but the second was listed as “speed – per se – 65 mph.” Livelsberger paid both of the waivers.
Law enforcement officials identified Livelsberger as the man in the Cybertruck explosion on Thursday.
Livelsberger was in the Army’s elite special forces unit and three U.S. officials told the Associated Press that he spent time at Fort Liberty—formerly known as Fort Bragg—in North Carolina, which is home to Army special forces command.
Investigators continue to assess possible motives, including political, for the Cybertruck blast. The FBI said on Thursday it has found “no definitive link” between the Tesla Cybertruck explosion and the vehicle attack on pedestrians in New Orleans.
“This is a Tesla truck, and we know that Elon Musk is working with President-elect Trump and it’s the Trump Tower,” Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill told reporters Wednesday when asked about possible connections. “So there’s obviously things to be concerned about and it’s something we continue to look at.”
The Cybertruck, as well as the vehicle used in the New Orleans attack, was rented via the Turo app.
McMahill said the car was rented through the app in Colorado and the driver had arrived in Las Vegas at about 7:30 a.m., local time, on January 1. He drove through the Las Vegas Strip before reaching the hotel where the explosion occurred, officials said.
“We are heartbroken by the violence perpetrated in New Orleans and Las Vegas, and our prayers are with the victims and families,” a Turo spokesperson told Newsweek. “We are actively partnering with law enforcement authorities as they investigate both incidents.”
Video footage shared on social media showed the moment the Cybertruck exploded outside the hotel, which has 64 stories and is located near the Las Vegas Strip and the Fashion Show Las Vegas shopping mall.
NEW FOOTAGE: “The fact that this was a Cybertruck really limited the damage that occurred inside of the valet, because it had most of the blast go up, through the truck and out… The glass doors at the Trump hotel were not even broken.” pic.twitter.com/XtztqmZAYr
— America (@america) January 2, 2025
Police have suggested the Cybertruck’s steel structure helped limit the blast’s radius.
Showing reporters video footage of the aftermath at a press briefing on Wednesday, McMahill said that “it looks like the exterior of the truck is completely in tact.”
What People Are Saying
Tesla CEO Elon Musk, wrote on X: “The evil knuckleheads picked the wrong vehicle for a terrorist attack. Cybertruck actually contained the explosion and directed the blast upwards.”
“Not even the glass doors of the lobby were broken.”
Jeremy Schwartz, acting FBI Special Agent in Charge for the Las Vegas office, said at a news conference: “I know you have a lot of questions.” He added, “We don’t have a lot of answers.”
Eric Trump, an executive vice president at the Trump Organization, wrote on X: “Earlier today, a reported electric vehicle fire occurred in the porte cochère of Trump Las Vegas. The safety and well-being of our guests and staff remain our top priority. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Las Vegas Fire Department and local law enforcement for their swift response and professionalism.”
Incoming first lady Melania Trump wrote on X: “The incidents of violence that have impacted our communities are deeply concerning. The brutality must stop. My heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with the families who are experiencing such profound grief and loss. Let us strive for a future where peace prevails.”
What’s Next
The Las Vegas Police Department said it is still investigating the fire and explosion. Jeremy Schwartz, the acting FBI special agent in charge of the Las Vegas office, also confirmed that the FBI is involved in the investigation.
On Thursday, the FBI confirmed that a search was carried out at a residence in Colorado Springs in connection to the Cybertruck explosion.
The post Matthew Livelsberger Criminal Record Before Cybertruck Explosion appeared first on Newsweek.
