(NewsNation) — The man who drove a Tesla Cybertruck that exploded outside of a Las Vegas, Nevada hotel was identified as Matthew Livelsberger, an Army veteran from Colorado, a law enforcement source told NewsNation.
He allegedly served at the same military base as Shamsud-Din Jabbar — according to the source — the man suspected of intentionally driving into a crowd in New Orleans, killing 15
One person died and seven others were injured as a result of the explosion at the entrance of the Las Vegas Trump International Hotel on Wednesday morning.
Police said the act was intentional. Gas canisters, camping fuel and firework mortars were found in the bed of the truck after the fire was extinguished, Sheriff Kevin McMahill of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said.
However, police did not find any devices that would have been used to ignite the explosion, and are unsure at this time how it ignited.
Video footage of the incident shows the truck parked next to the hotel’s front doors as it bursts into flames.
Sources told NewsNation local affiliate 8 News Now that the cybertruck was rented in Colorado Springs through carsharing company Turo.
“We are heartbroken by the violence perpetrated in New Orleans and Las Vegas, and our prayers are with the victims and families,” a Turo spokesperson said in a statement. “We are actively partnering with law enforcement authorities as they investigate both incidents. We do not believe that either renter involved in the Las Vegas and New Orleans attacks had a criminal background that would have identified them as a security threat.”
FBI Acting Special Agent-In-Charge Jeremy Schwartz said the car explosion was an isolated incident and that there is no threat to the public.
