Man who died in Tesla Cybertruck explosion was active-duty US Army solider, officials say

LAS VEGAS– The person authorities say died in the explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck packed with fireworks mortars and camp fuel canisters outside President-elect Donald Trump’s hotel in Las Vegas was an active-duty U.S. Army soldier, three U.S. officials told The Associated Press.

Two law enforcement officers identified the man in the futuristic-looking pickup as Matthew Livelsberger. The law enforcement officials spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation.

Three U.S. officials said Livelsberger was an active-duty Army member who spent time at the base formerly known as Fort Bragg, a massive Army base in North Carolina that commands the Army’s special forces. The officials also spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to reveal details of his service.

The truck explosion occurred hours after a driver, 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar, rammed a truck into a crowd in New Orleans’ famed French Quarter early on New Year’s Day, killing at least 15 people before being shot dead by police. That accident was investigated as a terrorist attack and police believe the driver did not act alone.

Jabbar, a U.S. Army veteran, also spent time at Fort Bragg, but an official said there has been no overlap in their assignments there so far.