As they have throughout the hours and days following the shocking Cybertruck explosion outside of the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, on New Year's Day, law enforcement officials conducted another press conference in which they disclosed multiple stunning new details regarding the incident.
Below are some of the key details disclosed in Friday afternoon's presser:
- Authorities recovered the phone of Matthew Livelsberger, the 37-year-old man believed to be the driver of the Cybertruck. The phone was damaged in the explosion, but they were able to extract the data.
- There was an app on the phone that Livelsberger used to take notes. One of the notes is titled "Surveillance Log," which "appears to be more of a journal of activity." The log dates from the 10 days preceding the incident.
- The journal includes multiple locations that match his identified route, as well as activities, including purchasing firearms, camping equipment, and other types of equipment used in the incident.
- They're classifying the incident as a "suicide, vehicle-borne, improvised explosive device" (Suicide-VBED).
- The coroner determined that Livelsberger sustained a self-inflicted gunshot wound, describing it as "intra-orbital," meaning he placed the gun in his mouth and discharged it, with the round coming out the left side of his head.
- To confirm that Livelsberger was the only individual in the vehicle, they made a variety of photo and video comparisons to match the clothing (including a jacket he was seen wearing in surveillance video taken while he was parking the truck in Las Vegas).
- Tesla sent engineers to Las Vegas to help extract data from the vehicle. They were able to extract an SDMI chip from the vehicle. Tesla was able to confirm from the data that the vehicle was not in full self-driving mode at any time during the incident.
- As to motive, they're still going through all the data, but the note application contained two letters. One was addressed to "Fellow service members, veterans, and all Americans," and said, "Time to wake up. We are being led by weak and feckless leadership who only serve to enrich themselves."
- The letters include a variety of grievances and issues — some political, some personal. They intend to release them as quickly as possible.
- The other letter includes the comment, "We are the United States of America, the best country people to ever exist! But right now we are terminally ill and headed toward collapse." The note continued:
- "This was not a terrorist attack, it was a wake up call. Americans only pay attention to spectacles and violence. What better way to get my point across than a stunt with fireworks and explosives?
- "Why did I personally do it now? I needed to cleanse my mind of the brothers I've lost and relieve myself of the burden of the lives I took."
- There is no evidence that this event is connected to the Bourbon Street Massacre that occurred earlier on New Year's Day. The only things connecting them are what they believe to be coincidental similarities — i.e., that both vehicles were rented via the Turo app, and both subjects served in the military. There has been no telephonic or email communication found between the two subjects and there is no information suggesting that they knew each other, served in the same unit, or interacted.
- They have not identified any connection between Livelsberger and any terrorist organization.
- Through interviews with family members, friends, associates, and other military members with whom Livelsberger served, and have found no animosity toward President-elect Donald Trump.
- Livelsberger likely suffered from PTSD and likely had other family issues or personal grievances that may have been contributing factors.
- They believe he acted alone and have found no evidence indicating otherwise to this point. All video footage reviewed shows him alone.
- DNA obtained from a family member confirmed Livelsberger's identity.
- The case ultimately appears to be a case of suicide involving a heavily decorated combat veteran struggling with PTSD and other issues.
- A tip they received after the bombing occurred, which they note is "floating around out there" and may be on podcasts, seemed to describe some of his personal grievances. They have not conclusively determined that it is from Livelsberger but feel confident, based on evidence they're uncovering on his devices, that it was, in fact, from him. (Note: This appears to be in reference to an email "manifesto" that is now circulating online. It is shown in Shawn Ryan's tweet below. The video of Ryan's full interview with "Samosaur," the recipient of the email, is embedded below, as well.)
- Prior to this incident, Livelsberger was not on the FBI's radar. He did not have a criminal history, and there would have been no reason to look into him.
- The firearms purchased on December 30, 2024, were tracked down as a lawful purchase at a gun store in Colorado. Livelsberger arrived at the store on December 27, initiated the purchase via ATF Form 4473, and paid for the firearms recovered from the Tesla on that date. On the 30th, he returned to the store and took possession of the firearms. On both dates, video shows Livelsberger as the sole occupant of the Tesla.
NEW: Possible Motive in Cybertruck Explosion Revealed
NEW: Cybertruck Suspect Sustained Gunshot Wound to the Head Just Before Vehicle Exploded
The real email/manifesto sent to @samosaur. pic.twitter.com/9LDIhIBS0q
— Shawn Ryan (@ShawnRyan762) January 3, 2025
RedState will continue to monitor this story and provide additional updates as they become available.