Matthew Livelsberger’s Wife Broke Up with Him Days Before Explosion Outside Trump Hotel

Green Beret Matthew Livelsberger, 37, identified as the driver of the Tesla Cybertruck that exploded outside Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas.

Matthew Livelsberger’s Wife Broke Up with Him Days Before Explosion Outside Trump Hotel in Las Vegas

Matthew Livelsberger, a 37-year-old Green Beret from Colorado Springs, was identified as the driver of the Tesla Cybertruck that exploded outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas on New Year’s Day. Officials confirmed during a press briefing that Livelsberger died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound moments before the explosion.

Incident Details

Investigators found significant evidence linking Livelsberger to the incident, including his passport, Army ID, and purchase records for firearms recovered from the charred vehicle. Livelsberger rented the Tesla Cybertruck via Turo on December 26, telling the owner he planned to camp at the Grand Canyon.

The vehicle arrived at the Trump International Hotel valet area around 8:39 a.m. and exploded 17 seconds later. Fireworks, gasoline cans, and fuel canisters in the truck’s bed caused the blast. Fortunately, the explosion was contained by the Cybertruck’s steel design, sparing the hotel lobby and causing only minor injuries to seven bystanders.

Wife Broke Up Days Before the Incident

Livelsberger’s wife reportedly broke up with him just six days before the explosion, following an argument about alleged infidelity. Sources familiar with the investigation say Livelsberger left their home after the dispute, telling his wife he would be gone for a while. She told investigators that while their marriage was strained, she did not believe he intended to harm anyone.

Military Background

Livelsberger was an active-duty member of the U.S. Army Special Forces, stationed in Germany at the time of his death. Decorated for heroism in combat, he received multiple Bronze Star medals, including one with a “V” device for valor, for service in Afghanistan.

His wife, who stayed in Colorado Springs with their infant daughter, said Livelsberger had been under significant stress but was a patriotic and dedicated soldier.

Motive Investigation

While the explosion occurred outside a property connected to former President Donald Trump and involved a vehicle manufactured by Tesla, owned by Trump ally Elon Musk, authorities have not found evidence of a political motive. Instead, they are exploring personal reasons, including Livelsberger’s mental state and recent domestic issues.

Sources suggest Livelsberger may have chosen the Cybertruck deliberately to minimize civilian casualties, as its robust steel construction contained the explosion and directed the blast upward.

The FBI has ruled out connections between the Las Vegas incident and a New Year’s Day truck attack in New Orleans, which killed 14 people and injured 35 others. Both vehicles were rented through Turo, but no evidence links the drivers.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk provided investigators with data from the vehicle’s charging stations along its route from Colorado to Las Vegas, aiding in tracking its movements.

Sheriff Kevin McMahill of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department assured the public that the explosion was an isolated incident, stating, “There is no further threat to the community.”

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