The driver of the Tesla Cybertruck that exploded outside Donald Trump’s Las Vegas hotel on New Year’s Day was a decorated Green Beret counterterrorism soldier who deployed twice to Afghanistan.

Matthew Livelsberger was named at the scene as the driver of the electric vehicle that exploded in the valet area outside the Trump International Hotel.

Livelsberger is believed to have rented the Cybertruck from Turo, a car leasing service, before packing it with fireworks mortars, camping fuel and canisters.

The 37-year-old from Colorado served with the Green Berets, highly trained special forces that work to combat terrorism abroad and train partners, the Army said in a statement.

He had served in the Army since 2006 and worked his way up over a long career that included overseas deployments, tours in Afghanistan and service in Ukraine, Tajikistan, Georgia and Congo.

Livelsberger was awarded two Bronze Stars, including a Valor Medal for Courage Under Fire, a Combat Infantry Badge and an Army Commendation Medal for Valor. The statement said he was on approved leave at the time of his death.

Via TMZ | Alcides Antunes

He was serving in Germany but was on leave in Colorado at the time of the attack, sources told CBS. A relative told the station that they were unaware of his involvement in the incident, but confirmed that he had rented a Cybertruck. His wife had not heard from him for several days.

He reportedly had several addresses in Colorado Springs, at least one of which was raided by the FBI on Wednesday evening.

Authorities are investigating a possible connection between Livelsberger and Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the terrorist behind the New Orleans car attack that killed 15 people on New Year’s Eve.

Both Livelsberger and Jabbar spent time at the Army base formerly known as Fort Bragg in North Carolina and home to several Army special forces units. However, one of the officials who spoke to the AP said there was no overlap in their duties at the base, now called Fort Liberty.

Jabbar, whose Ford truck carried a homemade Islamic State (IS) flag, also rented the vehicle from Turo.

A Turo spokesman said the company was “actively cooperating with law enforcement in the investigation of both incidents,” adding: “We do not believe that any of the tenants involved in the attacks in Las Vegas and New Orleans had a criminal background.” would have identified them as such.” a security threat.

“Thanks to our world-class trust and security technologies and teams including experienced former law enforcement professionals, we remain committed to maintaining the highest standards of risk management.”

Sheriff Kevin McMahill of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said authorities knew who rented the truck in Colorado but did not release the name until investigators determined whether it was the same person who died.

Law enforcement officials believe Jabbar did not act alone, although it is unclear whether the two crossed paths during their time in the military.

“We are absolutely investigating any connection to what happened in New Orleans, as well as other attacks that have occurred around the world,” McMahill said. “We’re not ruling anything out.”

Livelsberger is said to have been killed and seven others injured in the explosion in Las Vegas. Posts on Facebook suggest he was a Trump supporter and a fireworks enthusiast, as he once compared fireworks shows to the “sounds of battle.”

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police and Clark County Fire Department officials said one person died in the futuristic-looking pickup truck, which remained largely intact.

Given the billionaire’s relationship with Donald Trump, the US president-elect, officials are also likely to consider whether Livelsberger consciously chose Elon Musk’s car.

As of late Wednesday afternoon, authorities were still working to remove the body from the vehicle and begin collecting evidence from the vehicle.

US President Joe Biden was informed of the explosion. Mr. Musk said the explosion “appears likely to be an act of terrorism,” adding in a statement: “We have now confirmed that the explosion was caused by very large fireworks and/or a bomb being transported in the bed of the rented Cybertruck and this is the case.” has nothing to do with the vehicle itself.

“All telemetry data from the vehicle was positive at the time of the explosion.”

Photo credit: X / kaaaassuu

Police are treating the explosion as possibly criminal or an act of terrorism until the motive is determined.

Details about Jabbar’s background have since emerged, including his life as a real estate agent, his divorce and his financial problems.

The FBI said he was probably honorably discharged, and the Pentagon was reportedly poring over his records to find more information about his service and whereabouts.

In a video believed to have been posted on YouTube by the Texas-born terrorist, he said he worked for both Midas Group and Blue Meadow Properties. He also said he was born in Beaumont, Texas, but then settled in Houston.

“I have been here my entire life, with the exception of trips to the military, where I worked as a human resources and IT specialist for 10 years,” Jabbar said.

He said he “learned what great service means and what it means to be responsive and take everything seriously, dotting ‘I’s’ and crossing ‘T’s’ to make sure everything goes smoothly.”

Photo credit: YouTube/Shamsud-Din Jabbar

He was in significant financial trouble, owing more than $27,000 in late house payments and facing foreclosure, he said, and he had taken on $16,000 in credit card debt due to living expenses.

Criminal records reported by The New York Times showed that Jabbar had two prior minor felony charges – one in 2002 for theft and another in 2005 for driving with an invalid license.

Dwayne Marsh, the husband of Jabbar’s former wife, said Jabbar began converting to Islam last year and was “completely crazy.”

The attacks have led to heightened security in major cities across the United States, including New York. Eric Adams, the New York mayor, wrote on X that there would be increased security around Trump Tower and Times Square.

He said: “While there are no immediate threats to our city at this time, out of an abundance of caution, we have increased security and increased NYPD presence at relevant locations.”

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