An Army Special Forces operative, part of an elite unit, shot himself just moments before a powerful explosion erupted outside the Trump Las Vegas hotel. Despite this, both the FBI and local law enforcement remain unclear on his motives, officials disclosed on Thursday.
Matthew Livelsberger, 37, was discovered inside a vehicle with a fatal gunshot wound to the head, as reported by Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Sheriff Kevin McMahill during a press conference.
McMahill further explained that authorities recovered a powerful .50-caliber Desert Eagle handgun from the vehicle, which belonged to Livelsberger.
Due to the severity of the burns, Livelsberger’s body was so disfigured it was beyond recognition, authorities confirmed.
While it remains uncertain which firearm Livelsberger used to take his life, police indicated that they found the handgun in the vehicle along with other semi-automatic weapons that had also been scorched.
Even with the significant damage, officers were able to recover several items from the charred remains, including Livelsberger’s military ID, passport, phone, and smartwatch.
Reports suggest that surveillance footage captured the moment a Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside the Trump hotel in Las Vegas on January 1. Authorities are treating the incident as a potential act of terrorism.
Despite the extensive damage, investigators were able to identify two tattoos on the remains that correspond with tattoos previously documented on Livelsberger’s body.
Authorities are still searching for a motive, with FBI Special Agent in Charge Spencer Evans stating that the agency would rigorously pursue every lead related to Livelsberger.
Evans also pointed out that the FBI is considering the possibility that the attack had political motivations, given the location at a hotel owned by President-elect Donald Trump and the involvement of a vehicle linked to Trump associate Elon Musk.
“It’s not lost on us that it happened in front of the Trump building and a Tesla vehicle was used,” Evans remarked.
At this stage, law enforcement does not suspect that Livelsberger had assistance in carrying out the explosion. Surveillance footage shows him traveling alone from Colorado Springs to Las Vegas.
Tesla charging stations tracked Livelsberger’s journey southward and then westward, noting his stops at no fewer than eight different recharging stations as he made his way to Las Vegas.
At each station, he was observed by himself, with no other individuals seen entering or leaving the Cybertruck. According to police, Livelsberger rented the vehicle on the Turo app without any companions.
McMahill revealed that while there was no known criminal history for Livelsberger in Las Vegas, authorities are looking into a potential incident involving him from several years ago.
{Matzav.com}