Crime
Las Vegas Cybertruck bombing suspect Matthew Livelsberger spotted at a Tesla charging station
Las Vegas, NV – Newly released video footage and messages have shed light on the suspect behind the New Year’s Day Cybertruck explosion outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas.
Authorities have identified the bomber as Matthew Livelsberger, an active-duty soldier from Colorado Springs, whose motivations, captured in chilling messages, reflect a disturbing narrative.
Surveillance footage shows Livelsberger stopping at a Tesla charging station en route to Las Vegas. Investigators tracked his movements from Colorado, through New Mexico, Arizona, and finally Nevada, utilizing data from Tesla charging stations after he rented the Cybertruck through Turo in Denver on December 28.
Messages Left by Livelsberger
Authorities released excerpts of messages left by Livelsberger, which appear to outline his rationale for the attack:
- “Fellow Servicemembers, Veterans, and all Americans, TIME TO WAKE UP!”
- “We are being led by weak and feckless leadership who only serve to enrich themselves.”
- “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.”
The explosion occurred in the valet area of the Trump International Hotel Las Vegas on the morning of New Year’s Day. The blast killed Livelsberger, who died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and injured several others. According to the Clark County coroner, Livelsberger’s body was “burnt beyond recognition,” complicating initial identification efforts.
Forensic investigators uncovered Livelsberger’s military IDs, passport, and multiple firearms within the remains of the vehicle.
The bombing followed closely on the heels of a New Orleans truck attack, where 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar rammed a truck into a crowd in the French Quarter, killing at least 15 people.
These back-to-back incidents prompted heightened security across Las Vegas, with LVMPD Sheriff Kevin McMahill announcing increased patrols along the Las Vegas Strip and downtown areas.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) will hold a press briefing at 1 p.m. on Friday at police headquarters. Sheriff McMahill is expected to provide updates on the investigation.
This tragic and harrowing incident has reignited discussions about public safety, extremism, and the mental health challenges faced by veterans. The investigation is ongoing.
LAS VEGAS, NV – A 36-year-old man accused of setting multiple Tesla vehicles on fire using Molotov cocktails has been arrested and charged with multiple felonies, according to court and jail records.
The suspect, identified as Paul Hyon Kim, was booked into the Clark County Detention Center on Wednesday.
He faces 15 charges, including:
- Arson,
- Destruction of property valued at $5,000 or more,
- Possession of an incendiary device, and
- Misdemeanor discharging a firearm into a vehicle.
Video footage from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) showed a suspect, dressed in black, targeting at least five Tesla vehicles in the parking lot of a Tesla service center located at 6260 Badura Avenue, near Jones Boulevard and the 215 Beltway.
The incident occurred around 2:45 a.m. on February 18.
Authorities say the suspect used multiple incendiary devices to ignite the Teslas, one of which failed to detonate and was recovered inside a vehicle.
Additionally, the front doors of the facility were vandalized with the word “RESIST” spray-painted across them.
During a news conference later that morning, Assistant Sheriff Dori Koren described the attack as a targeted assault on Tesla property, with potential ideological motivations.
“This was a targeted attack against a Tesla facility,” Koren stated. “While we believe this was an isolated incident, we are increasing our presence at Tesla-related locations throughout the valley as a precaution.”
The Clark County Fire Department and the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force are actively involved in the investigation.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Spencer Evans acknowledged the attack had “some of the hallmarks of terrorism” but refrained from making a definitive classification.
Attorney General Pam Bondi, however, released a strongly worded statement, referring to the attack as part of a pattern of violence targeting Tesla facilities.
“The swarm of violent attacks on Tesla property is nothing short of domestic terrorism,” Bondi stated.
Kim remains in custody as the investigation continues.
Authorities urge anyone with additional information to contact Las Vegas Metro Police or the FBI.