Cybertruck driver had likely self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, sheriff says

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: NPR

Updated January 2, 2025 3:09 PM ET


Authorities have identified the driver of the Cybertruck that exploded in front of the Trump hotel in Las Vegas as 37-year-old Master Sgt. Matthew Alan Livelsberger. In a news briefing Thursday afternoon, police say they still don't have 100 percent confirmation because he was "burned beyond recognition" in the blast. They're awaiting DNA tests to confirm his identity.

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Sheriff Kevin McMahill says Livelsberger sustained a gunshot wound to the head prior to the Cybertuck detonating; investigators believe it was self inflicted.

Officials found several items in the vehicle including multiple firearms, fireworks, a military ID, an iPhone and several credit cards. The FBI and local law enforcement officials are still looking for a motive.

Livelsberger was an active-duty Special Operations soldier with the U.S. Army. Officials noted similarities with 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the man who drove a pickup truck onto the sidewalk in New Orleans, killing at least 15 and injuring dozens more. McMahill said both men served at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, though there's no indication they served in the same unit. They also both served in Afghanistan in 2009, and they both used the rental car app Turo to rent the vehicles used in these attacks. McMahill said details on additional parallels are unknown. Law enforcement and intelligence officials are investigating any potential connection between the two incidents.

Read more: https://www.npr.org/2025/01/02/g-s1-40854/tesla-cybertruck-explosion-las-vegas

---

Heard this on my local CBS-affiliate news radio station.

[Probatim]

1. Probably came to the realization he bought a piece of sh*t for a vehicle and decided he'd had enough.

[generalbetrayus]

2. Muskmobile was a rental.

[Probatim]

3. As part of my 2025 resolution, I'm not letting facts get in the way of my opinions.

So LALALALA - I can't hear you.

(I know and I'm just trying to poke some fun at Elon)

[SunSeeker]

6. It was rented on Turo. I'm guessing it was the fact that his wife just left him. nt

[Probatim]

8. See my response above - I'm not letting facts get in the way of my narrative. /s

Also, I knew the truck was rented through Turo (the same app used by the asshat in New Orleans) when I wrote my response.

That his wife had recently left him is news to me. And, with an additional heaping serving of sarcasm, I can't imagine why a woman would leave a man who is so desperately MAGA and manly.

[SunSeeker]

9. Yeah, MAGAts are chick magnets.

[Cha]

14. I hadn't read that... Just looked it up.. Here's their pics..

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/who-is-matthew-livelsbergers-wife-sara-livelsbergers-anti-trump-messages/ar-AA1wQTK7

TY

[Polybius]

13. It actually foiled his plans because it's so tough

He was probably like "shit, it contained the explosion and now I'm getting life in prison."

[IronLionZion]

4. I wish these people would just do that alone at home

and not hurt anyone else.



I don't want to encourage suicide. I just want to discourage hurting others.

[Prairie Gates]

5. Have we already named it Fort Bragg again?

Maybe it was called Fort Bragg when they were there. It's currently called Fort Liberty, no?

[TheRickles]

7. I wonder if both of those vets had unresolved PTSD.

[SunSeeker]

10. They both clearly had mental health issues. nt

[Attilatheblond]

11. relationship problems? Maybe wife was leaving?

Reply to liberalgunwilltravel (Original post)
Thu Jan 2, 2025, 05:02 PM

That is generally a very dangerous time for a wife, but sometimes anger goes inward and not outward. And a "highly decorated Army soldier" might have a need to go out in a blaze of glory in his own mind. Nothing like a big boom and fireworks to make a statement?

[LeftInTX]

15. He texted an ex-GF right after he picked up the truck rental.

Link to tweet

[Sogo]

12. They say the MAGATS and the Muskovites are at war over the visa issue....

Maybe he's the first casualty of that war - showing his contempt for Musk, but also showing his disillusionment with Trump for siding with Musk on the issue....

[Xipe Totec]

16. Stochastic insanity

Similar experiences leading to similar psychotic instability just waiting for a triggering event; Islamic radicalization in one case, voter's remorse in the other.

Take this with a pinch of salt, a wedge of lime, and a shot of tequila.

[LeftInTX]

17. He had traumatic brain injury

Arritt said that Livelsberger’s behavior changed in 2019 after he returned from a tour in the Middle East with a traumatic brain injury .


He became isolated. She believes that the depressive symptoms he showed went untreated because “it’s not acceptable to seek treatment when someone is in Special Forces.”

The FBI told Arritt that she was not the only old girlfriend Livelsberger contacted in those last few days.