LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department released its 78-page after-action report on the Cybertruck explosion that took place at the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas on Jan. 1.
The incident in which investigators believe Matthew Livelsberger drove a rented Tesla Cybertruck up to the Las Vegas hotel before detonating it was “premeditated,” according to the report, which stated that the vehicle-borne improvised explosive device had the potential to “cause mass casualties and extensive structural damage.”
The explosion took place hours after New Year’s Eve activities on The Strip, and not long after a terror attack in New Orleans. The proximity to that attack, which killed 14 and injured 57, created speculation about a coordinated terrorist attack.
Investigation into Matthew Livelsberger
The report stated that a manifesto was recovered from Livelsberger’s phone, adding that it was deemed classified by Department of Defense officials, and “due to concerns regarding national security,” was not released to the public.
Investigators reported details of the investigation into Livelsberger, during which they discovered that he had rented the vehicle using the Turo app. The report said the truck’s owner had spent approximately 20 minutes explaining the vehicle’s functions to Livelsberger.
Livelsberger’s military identification was found in the Cybertruck, and his wife told investigators that their marriage was under strain due to an alleged affair, the report stated.
Officials were able to recover Livelsberger’s manifesto, internet search history, social media activity, encrypted emails, notes, and his ChatGPT history.
Investigators tracked the suspect’s movements from his Colorado home to Las Vegas, detailing stops along the way to acquire firearms, ammunition, fireworks, and other explosives.
According to the police document, the Cybertruck contained camping fuel containers, high-octane racing fuel, and gasoline canisters along with unexploded commercial fireworks.
Aftermath Investigation
Police detailed the investigation into the explosion, which included visual inspection from drones in the immediate aftermath of the blast. Additionally, 3D scans were used in rendering the scene and assisting in locating components of the explosive that police said were found hundreds of feet away from the Cybertruck.
Officials reported the challenges faced during the incident, including lessons learned, such as a lack of awareness of the unique hazards of lithium fires, the limited availability of personal protective equipment to crime scene analysts, and a limited understanding of the deployment of “advanced forensic technology.”
In a letter from Sheriff Kevin McMahill included in the report, he detailed his personal timeline throughout the New Year’s Day incident.
“On January 1, 2025, a lone actor chose the Las Vegas Strip as his destination to make a very big, very public statement. As a result, he lost his life, six others were injured, and several hundred more were deeply affected by what they witnessed,” McMahill said. “It is for these individuals that we look at all aspects of what took place, so we can continue to learn and grow as an agency.”
The release also detailed LVMPD’s prioritized employee wellness policies, which were implemented in the aftermath of the 2017 mass shooting in Las Vegas, adding that counseling and resources were available to personnel involved in the Cybertruck explosion incident and investigation.
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