Man who died in Tesla in Las Vegas 'suffered gunshot wound' before explosion
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The man who authorities believe died in the Tesla Cybertruck that exploded outside one of Donald Trump's hotels was an active-duty army soldier who served in the special forces, US officials have said. Speaking at a news conference, Las Vegas sheriffs and FBI officials said the identity of the driver had not yet been officially confirmed through DNA, but evidence pointed towards it being Matthew Livelsberger, 37, of Colorado Springs in Colorado.
The man who died had suffered a gunshot wound to the head prior to the Tesla vehicle bursting into flames outside the Trump International Hotel on New Year's Day, said Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill. Officials believe the wound was self-inflicted and said a firearm was found at the driver's feet.
Military identification was also found inside the vehicle, along with an iPhone and a smartwatch. Livelsberger was a member of the elite Green Berets, a special forces unit and guerrilla warfare experts, according to a US army statement. He had served in the army since 2006 and spent some time at a base formerly known as Fort Bragg, a centre in North Carolina that is home to special forces command.
He was still on active duty and on approved leave at the time of the Tesla explosion outside the Trump International Hotel, officials said. Seven other people suffered minor injuries when the vehicle caught fire. The explosion is being looked at as a possible terror attack, officers have said. As yet, no cause for the blast has been given, but fireworks mortars, cannisters and other explosive devices were found in the back of the truck.
