(NewsNation) — Las Vegas police said the driver of a Cybertruck that exploded in front of a Trump hotel in the city has been identified as 37-year-old Matthew Livelsberger of Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Investigators had earlier said they were waiting on DNA to provide 100% identification before confirming Livelsberger as the driver Thursday afternoon.
How did authorities first identify Matthew Livelsberger?
Investigators said a military ID, passport and credit cards found in the vehicle belonged to Livelsberger and were used to initially identify him.
They said there were also photos of Livelsberger driving the Cybertruck from Colorado to Las Vegas. Police also used remnants of tattoos visible on the burned body to make the preliminary identification.
Who is Matthew Livelsberger?
Livelsberger was a master sergeant in the Army, most recently serving in Stuttgart, Germany, with the 10th Special Forces Group. He was also deployed to Afghanistan in 2009.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives confirmed that all the components of the improvised bomb were made from items that can easily be purchased, including consumer fireworks, fuel enhancers and exploding targets.
The two firearms found in the truck were also purchased legally, the ATF said.
He has no criminal record, and no information about his background prior to joining the military or his personal life has been released.
Matthew Livelsberger’s military service
Livelsberger enlisted as an 18X and served in active duty from January 2006 to March 2011, according to an Army spokesperson. He then joined the National Guard from March 2011 through July 2012. After that, Livelsberger was in the Army Reserve until December 2012, when he entered active duty as an Army Special Operations soldier.
“Livelsberger was assigned to the command and on approved leave at the time of his death. USASOC is in full cooperation with federal and state law enforcement agencies, but as a matter of policy, will not comment on ongoing investigations,” the spokesperson said.
Livelsberger received a number of awards during his service, including multiple Bronze Stars, Army commendation and achievement medals and a Meritorious Service Medal.
What do officials think motivated the attack?
Investigators have said they have not ruled anything in or out when it comes to the motivation behind the explosion.
Las Vegas police did deem the attack a suicide mission and said the driver had a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head that occurred immediately prior to the explosion.
Is Matthew Livelsberger connected to New Orleans suspect Shamsud-Din Jabbar?
Both Livelsberger and the suspect in a New Orleans attack on New Year’s Day, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, served in the Army.
Both men were stationed at Fort Bragg during their careers, and both were stationed in Afghanistan in 2009.
At this time, authorities say there is no evidence the two men were in the same unit at Fort Bragg or that they were even there during the same years. Investigators have also not uncovered any information to indicate the two men were in the same unit or location in Afghanistan during their deployments.
NewsNation’s Travis Harrison and Kellie Meyer contributed to this report.
