Officials have confirmed that the man who rented the Tesla Cybertruck that exploded outside President-elect Donald Trump’s Las Vegas hotel is an active-duty U.S. Special Forces soldier.
Las Vegas police identified Matthew Allen Livesberger, 37, of Colorado, as the lessee of the vehicle that drove the Cybertruck from Colorado to Las Vegas.
They said they were confident he was the same person found dead in the vehicle after the explosion but were awaiting DNA evidence to confirm this.
The body was burned beyond recognition and was found with a gunshot wound to the head, believed to be self-inflicted, according to Las Vegas Sheriff Kevin McMahill.
Seven people were injured in the explosion after a vehicle carrying fuel canisters and firecracker mortars exploded. Officials said all injuries were minor.
Authorities said they do not yet know the motive.
“It’s safe to say it was a suicide due to the bombing that occurred immediately afterwards,” Las Vegas Sheriff Kevin McMahill said at a press conference Thursday afternoon.
Livelsberger leased the Cybertruck on December 28 in Denver, Colorado. He has decades of experience in the U.S. military, including service in the Army and National Guard.
He enlisted in the Army in December 2012 and served as a special forces soldier.
The U.S. military said he was on approved leave at the time of his death.
Livelsberger’s father spoke to the BBC’s news partner CBS and said his son was currently serving in Germany and was on leave to visit Colorado and see his wife and 8-month-old daughter.
Livelsberger’s father last spoke with his son on Christmas Day and said everything seemed normal.
