--- title: "Tesla Cybertruck Packed With Explosives Kills 1, Injures 7 Outside Las Vegas Trump Hotel" date: "2025-01-02" modified: "2025-01-02" authors: - name: "Nico DeMattia" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/nico-demattia" url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/a-cybertruck-exploded-outside-of-trump-hotel-killing-the-driver-and-injuring-7-others" categories: - "News" - "News by Brand" - "Tesla News" tags: - "Cybertruck" - "Electric Vehicle" - "pickup" - "Tesla" --- # Tesla Cybertruck Packed With Explosives Kills 1, Injures 7 Outside Las Vegas Trump Hotel ![]() *\@GamblingNews123 via X, The Drive\* The FBI is investigating the explosion of a [Tesla Cybertruck]() outside of the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas that occurred early Wednesday. Only the driver was killed, although seven other people suffered minor injuries, in what the FBI is calling a possible act of terrorism. Authorities don't yet believe that the incident is related to an attack in New Orleans also on New Year's Day, where someone drove a pickup truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street, killing at least 15 people and injuring many others. "We do not believe that there's a bunch of folks out there supporting this or helping this," said FBI agent Jeremy Schwartz, per [*CBS News*](). That said, the explosion does seem to be intentional. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill said police found gas cans, camp fuel canisters, and firework mortars in the electric truck, which officials say was rented to Matthew Alan Livelsberger, an active duty U.S. Army servicemember on leave in Colorado at the time of the incident. While McMahill said that police are unsure how everything was ignited, [security footage posted to X]() shows flames erupting from the cab a split second before the bed explodes. After that, you can see fireworks pop off. According to McMahill, the explosion happened approximately 15 seconds after the Cybertruck pulled up to the hotel. > Cybertruck blows up at Trump Tower in Las Vegas [@elonmusk]() [@realDonaldTrump]() [@LasVegasLocally]() [@VitalVegas]() [pic.twitter.com/8dZrKbbKYi]() > — Gambling News (@GamblingNews123) [January 1, 2025]() According to the [*Associated Press*](), Tesla CEO Elon Musk provided the FBI with security footage from Supercharger stations, mapping its journey into Vegas, where it arrived at about 7:30 a.m. local time. It stopped in front of the Trump Hotel around an hour later. "We have now confirmed that the explosion was caused by very large fireworks and/or a bomb carried in the bed of the rented Cybertruck and is unrelated to the vehicle itself," [said Musk on X](). McMahill credited the Cybertruck's construction for containing the explosion, per *[CNN]()*. "The fact that this was a Cybertruck really limited the damage that occurred inside of the valet because it had most of the blast. Up through the truck and out," McMahill said. "You’ll see that the front glass doors at the Trump hotel were not even broken by that blast which they were parked directly in front of." The Cybertruck's body panels are made from sheets of stainless steel. Some reports have placed Livelsberger as the driver who was killed in the blast, though neither the FBI nor Las Vegas police have confirmed this. Like the pickup used in the New Orleans attack, the Cybertruck in Las Vegas was rented via the service Turo, and the suspects in both incidents served in the U.S. Army. According to *CBS*, one of Livelsberger's relatives said his wife hadn't heard from him in days. Thankfully, no one else was killed outside the Trump Hotel. While authorities currently believe the incident was isolated, the investigation is ongoing. *Got tips? Send 'em to tips@thedrive.com* ## Author Nico is a writer and reviewer from New Jersey who probably thinks he’s a lot funnier than he actually is. His love of cars began when he was just a kid playing Gran Turismo 3, grinding out enough race wins with a Mazda Miata to save up for an in-game RUF 911. That passion for small, lightweight sports cars drove his desire to learn more about the industry, get his hands on as many cars as he could, and bring those experiences to life on the page. He cut his teeth writing about BMWs, Volkswagens, and Audis, mostly, and has owned far too many of each. He’s on his fourth 3 Series sedan, but all of his old, cheap German cars have forced him to learn more about car maintenance than his mechanical capability can handle. Too many late nights have been spent scrambling to get a car running by morning so he could get to work. For some reason, he never seems to learn that old Bimmers probably aren’t the best daily drivers. But he loves more than just old German cars. He’ll gladly drive and discuss anything with four (or even three) wheels. Cars aren’t his only passions, though. Nico is also a big nerd and loves movies, video games, comic books, and cares far too much about the New York Giants. So don’t be surprised if you see football references or dumb, obscure movie quotes in any of his car reviews. ### Author social links [Instagram]() [LinkedIn]()