Staff Reports
In an incident that raises eyebrows and a few chuckles about the state of security, authorities have identified Matthew Alan Livelsberger, a 37-year-old active-duty Army soldier, as the man behind the Tesla Cybertruck explosion outside Trump Tower in Las Vegas. This high-tech vehicle went from zero to boom in about fifteen seconds after Livelsberger parked it right at the entrance. Unsurprisingly, this reckless stunt ended with him as the main casualty and seven others nursing injuries while trying to recover from the shock.
The scene at the crime was as baffling as a Hollywood script. Law enforcement officials unearthed a cornucopia of suspicious items in the wrecked Tesla, including gasoline canisters, camp fuel canisters— it’s like the guy was preparing for an all-out barbecue—and large firework mortars. One could imagine him thinking he was on some kind of twisted Fourth of July mission instead of being outside a major hotel. What could have gone through his mind? Perhaps he underestimated that fancy electric vehicle’s capacity for mayhem.
Las Vegas Mayor Shelley Berkley is keeping her city under heightened scrutiny, stating that there will be an increased police presence on the Strip and surrounding areas for the next couple of days. Meanwhile, Sheriff Kevin McMahill, trying to keep a lid on the chaos, claimed this was an isolated incident. Unfortunate timing, considering this explosion came mere hours after a man waving an ISIS flag plowed a truck into a crowd in New Orleans, resulting in the tragic loss of life and an exhilarating police shoot-out. Perfect time for a little drama, huh?
Police identify Matthew Livelsberger as suspect in Tesla bombing https://t.co/ZwLPnEtOHR
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) January 2, 2025
Livelsberger’s choice of vehicle is probably raising eyebrows long after the smoke has cleared. The Tesla he was driving was rented from Turo in Colorado, where he lived, suggesting he might have thought a zap of high voltage was the ultimate power move. Let’s not forget, though, that this explosion outside Trump Tower comes just weeks ahead of Donald Trump being sworn in as President again. It seems like some people are trying to deliver a message, albeit a rather misguided one, in a way that rivals the best third-rate movie plots.
Investigative teams from the FBI and local law enforcement are scouring for connections between Livelsberger and the unorthodox attack. The curious choice of a Tesla Cybertruck for a coup of chaos adds another layer of intrigue. This is one of those situations where security and sanity apparently took a vacation. Perhaps they were sipping a cocktail somewhere luxurious, oblivious to the soap opera unfolding back home. And as for Livelsberger? Well, he certainly wasn’t enhancing the image of those who serve in the military. For a while, it seems, a Tesla will carry a different kind of buzz in Vegas—one far removed from the glitz and glamor.
