(NewsNation) — The man who drove a Tesla Cybertruck that exploded outside of a Las Vegas hotel was identified as Matthew Livelsberger, an Army soldier from Colorado, a law enforcement source told NewsNation.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said at a news conference Thursday that Livelsberger has not yet been “100%” confirmed as the person in the vehicle, as his body was burnt beyond recognition. However, police tracked Livelsberger from Colorado to Las Vegas, and in a number of photographs, they were able to determine that he was the one in the Cybertruck. In addition, Livelsberger had military identification and a passport on his body.
Livelsberger enlisted as an 18X and served in active duty from January 2006 to March 2011, according to an Army spokesperson. He then joined the National Guard from March 2011 through July 2012. After that, Livelsberger was in the Army Reserve until December 2012, when he entered active duty as an Army Special Operations soldier.
“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,” the spokesperson said.
He allegedly served at the same military base as Shamsud-Din Jabbar — according to the source — the man suspected of intentionally driving into a crowd in New Orleans, killing 15. Las Vegas police said at a news conference that the two did not serve at the same time, though. The FBI said at a news conference Thursday that there’s no definitive link between the two incidents.
Matthew Liveslberger identified as driver in Cybertruck explosion
Livelsberger died and seven others were injured as a result of the explosion at the entrance of the Las Vegas Trump International Hotel on Wednesday morning.
Police said the act was intentional. Gas canisters, camping fuel and firework mortars were found in the bed of the truck after the fire was extinguished, Sheriff Kevin McMahill of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said.
However, police did not find any devices that would have been used to ignite the explosion and are unsure at this time how it ignited.
Cybertruck explodes outside Trump Las Vegas hotel
Video footage of the incident shows the truck parked next to the hotel’s front doors as it bursts into flames.
Sources told NewsNation local affiliate KLAS that the Cybertruck was rented in Colorado Springs through carsharing company Turo.
“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 said in a statement. “We are actively partnering with law enforcement authorities as they investigate both incidents. We do not believe that either renter involved in the Las Vegas and New Orleans attacks had a criminal background that would have identified them as a security threat.”
FBI Acting Special Agent-In-Charge Jeremy Schwartz said the car explosion was an isolated incident and that there is no threat to the public.