A former member of the US military’s elite Green Berets has been identified as the man behind the Tesla Cybertruck bombing in Las Vegas. Matthew Leavelsberger described the attack as a personal act of “clearing his mind” and condemned the “blameless leadership” of a nation he believed was on the brink of collapse.
Leavelsberger left two digital notes on a burnt mobile phone found in a rented Tesla Cybertruck before it exploded outside the Trump International Hotel on January 1. These notes shed light on his motive for the bombing and his subsequent suicide by gunshot.
According to Las Vegas police, Livelsberger wrote in a notes app, “This was not a terrorist attack, this was a warning.”
According to a report in The New York Post, he further said, “Now why did I personally do this? I needed to clear my mind of the brothers I had lost and free myself of the burden on my life.”
Seven people were injured in the blast. Leavelsbarger’s body was burned beyond recognition and he was later identified by his passport and military ID found in the vehicle.
A veteran of the Afghanistan tour in 2017 and 2018, Leavelsberger was known for his patriotism and support of President-elect Donald Trump. Federal officials suggested that his actions may have been motivated by severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other personal conflicts. FBI Special Agent Spencer Evans said it “appears to be a tragic case of suicide involving a highly decorated combat veteran who was struggling with PTSD and other issues.”
In a second letter recovered by investigators, Livelsberger urged his fellow soldiers, veterans, and civilians to take action against the degradation of American society. “Ours is a weak and flawed leadership that only works to enrich itself. We are the United States of America, the best country ever for people to exist! But right now we are terminally ill and headed for collapse,” he wrote.
Authorities believe Leavelsberger carefully planned his final journey. After an argument with his wife over alleged infidelity, he left their home in Colorado Springs the day after Christmas. They then rented a Tesla Cybertruck through a car-sharing app and drove to Las Vegas, documenting their trip.
Surveillance footage obtained by police shows Livelsberger stopping at several charging stations on his way to Las Vegas. His last stop was in front of the Trump International Hotel, where he detonated the explosives placed in the Cybertruck, while taking his own life with a firearm.
