US soldier involved in Cybertruck explosion leaves 'wake up call' note
Illustrative photo: The note of the driver who blew up the Cybertruck near Trump's hotel has been revealed (Getty Images)
A US serviceman detonated a Tesla Cybertruck near the entrance to the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas on January 1. Before the explosion, he took his own life and left behind a note. In the note, 37-year-old Matthew Livelsberger explained that the blast was not an act of terrorism. Instead, he described it as a "wake-up call" for the country, reports Associated Press.
It is known that the American soldier who was driving the Cybertruck shot himself in the head just before the fuel tanks and fireworks placed in the vehicle's bed detonated. The Green Beret from Colorado Springs, Colorado, died in the car from a gunshot wound.
Among the charred belongings found inside the vehicle were a pistol by Livelsberger's feet, another firearm, fireworks, a passport, military ID, credit cards, an iPhone, and a smartwatch. The weapons were legally purchased.
Matthew Livelsberger (photo: x.com/LVMPD)
Notes left by the soldier-driver
The man left a text message on his mobile phone, stating that he needed to "cleanse" his mind "of the brothers I’ve lost and relieve myself of the burden of the lives I took."
It is noted that Levelsberger had served in the US Army since 2006 and had been deployed to Afghanistan twice.
"This was not a terrorist attack. It was a wake-up call. Americans only pay attention to spectacles and violence. What better way to get my point across than a stunt with fireworks and explosives," Livelsberger wrote in one letter found by authorities.
As a result of the Cybertruck explosion, seven people sustained minor injuries, but the Trump International Hotel building itself suffered little to no damage or significant destruction.
Site of the Tesla Cybertruck explosion near Trump's hotel (photo: Las Vegas Police Department)
According to US law enforcement, Livelsberger acted alone and had no accomplices.
Support for Trump and Musk, comments on the war in Ukraine
The man’s letters covered a range of topics, including political grievances, domestic and international issues, and the Russia-Ukraine war. In one letter, Livelsberger wrote that the United States was "terminally ill and headed toward collapse."
According to law enforcement officials, Livelsberger had no intention of harming newly-elected President Donald Trump. In one note, he stated that the country needed to "unite" around this political figure. He also mentioned the need to unite around Tesla CEO and billionaire Elon Musk.
Assistant Sheriff Dori Koren explained that Tesla engineers helped investigators retrieve data from the Cybertruck. This included Livelsberger's route between charging stations, which spanned from Colorado through New Mexico and Arizona to Las Vegas.
According to the Associated Press, in recent years, Levelsberger had confided in his ex-girlfriend, an Army nurse. He spoke about experiencing significant pain and exhaustion, which she attributed to a traumatic brain injury.
“My life has been a personal hell for the last year,” he told Arritt in text messages during their early days of dating that she shared with The Associated Press.
The US Army reports that, in addition to his military service with the Army and two deployments to Afghanistan, Livelsberger also served in Ukraine, Tajikistan, Georgia, and Congo.
In one of the photos, Livelsberger wears a T-shirt with an inscription in Ukrainian (photo: telegraph.co.uk)
The AP adds that the man had recently returned from an overseas assignment in Germany and was listed as being on leave at the time of his death.
Tesla Cybertruck explosion near Trump Hotel
It was previously reported that on January 1, an explosion occurred involving a Tesla Cybertruck near the entrance to the Trump International Hotel (also known as Trump Las Vegas) in Las Vegas. Later, information emerged about a victim and several people injured in the incident.
Both US police and Elon Musk stated that they did not rule out the possibility of a terrorist attack.
