Published: Jan. 2, 2025 at 10:44 AM EST |Updated: Jan. 3, 2025 at 4:31 PM EST LAS VEGAS (KVVU/Gray News) - The man who died inside of a Tesla Cybertruck that burst into flames outside of a Trump hotel in Las Vegas suffered a gunshot wound to the head just before the explosion, according to officials. According to the Associated Press, the man inside the truck was identified by law enforcement as Matthew Livelsberger. Officials added that they are waiting on DNA evidence to confirm their identification. In a press conference on Thursday, Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill said a handgun was found at Livelsberger’s feet. Officials believe the shot was self-inflicted. A second gun, fireworks, passport, military ID, credit cards, an iPhone and a smartwatch were all found inside the Cybertruck, McMahill said. Authorities said both guns were purchased legally. Livelsberger was an active-duty Army soldier and assigned to the 10th Special Forces Group headquartered at Fort Carson, Colorado. He served in the Green Berets, highly trained special forces who work to counter terrorism abroad and train partners, the Army said in a statement. He had served in the Army since 2006, rising through the ranks with a long career of overseas assignments, deploying twice to Afghanistan and serving in Ukraine, Tajikistan, Georgia and Congo, according to the Army. He was awarded two Bronze Stars, including one with a valor device for courage under fire, a combat infantry badge and an Army Commendation Medal with valor. Livelsberger was on approved leave when he died, according to an Army statement. Canisters of gasoline and camp fuel were found inside the Cybertruck's bed, along with fireworks. (Las Vegas Metro Police) Livelsberger spent time at Fort Bragg, a massive Army base in North Carolina that is home to Army special forces command, according to the Associated Press. Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar who plowed into a crowd in New Orleans early on New Year’s Day and killed at least 15 people before being shot to death by police, also served time at Fort Bragg. Chris Raia, FBI deputy assistant director, said Thursday that officials have found ‘no definitive link’ between the New Orleans attack and the truck explosion in Las Vegas. On Thursday, the FBI said that it was “conducting law enforcement activity” at a home in Colorado Springs related to Wednesday’s explosion but provided no other details. According to Summit County property records, Livelsberger is the current owner of a home in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, which he purchased in 2019. According to police, the explosion in Las Vegas occurred in the valet area of the hotel around 8:40 a.m. after the Cybertruck pulled in. Several fireworks and gas canisters were found inside the vehicle, which did not explode. UMC Hospital said they treated two of the seven injured people from the explosion, and both have been released. A county spokeswoman said the fire started in the valet area of the Trump International Hotel Las Vegas. (KVVU) During a press conference, LVMPD Sheriff Kevin McMahill shared that the suspect was inside the vehicle and died in the explosion. McMahill also shared that they are looking for secondary devices and “taking it slow” in their search. Guests staying on the property and surrounding hotels said they could hear a large explosion that was notably louder than fireworks. Video showed massive plumes of smoke coming from the entrance of the hotel. Oscar Terol who was visiting from Spain, said he was in the lobby when the explosion happened. “The moment we were in the lobby about to turn the rotating doors, the explosion happened, we saw the Cybertruck there, and in a split second, ‘Boom!’ The first one super big,” Terol said. “We both fell. My wife was before me, and lots of explosions afterward.” Guests staying at the hotel said they were not allowed to leave the lobby while the fire was active, but were later moved to a Resorts World Ballroom. Eric Trump, the son of President-elect Donald Trump, expressed his gratitude for local law enforcement’s response in a post on X. Also on X, Elon Musk added that Tesla’s senior team is investigating the incident, saying, “We’ve never seen anything like this.” Musk said the Cybertruck was rented from Turo, and the explosion was caused by a very large bomb or firework, unrelated to the vehicle. Around 10:15 p.m., police had the Cybertruck towed away from the front of the hotel. Copyright 2025 KVVU via Gray Local Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Most Read