Recently disclosed details have shed light on a possible motive behind the Cybertruck explosion, where a man detonated his vehicle and ended his life.
The incident took place on New Year’s Day, when a Tesla Cybertruck erupted into flames outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas.
The man inside the vehicle was later identified by police as Matthew Livelsberger, a 37-year-old Army veteran from Colorado Springs. At the time, he was on leave and had traveled to the hotel.
During the January 1 event, Livelsberger shot himself before the rented vehicle exploded. The vehicle was filled with fireworks, gas tanks, and camping fuel, leading to minor injuries for at least six nearby individuals.
Despite the explosion, the Trump hotel suffered no significant damage.
The subsequent investigation unveiled that Livelsberger had shared messages with his former partner, Alicia Arritt, expressing his enthusiasm for the Cybertruck.
Arritt mentioned that the exchange was light-hearted and gave no hint of Livelsberger’s intentions.
After his passing, she observed a change in his behavior that began in 2019. He became more withdrawn following his return from the Middle East with a traumatic brain injury.
Arritt described Livelsberger as a patriotic individual, which left her puzzled by the events that unfolded.
According to a report by the New York Post, Livelsberger was married at the time of his death, and his wife had just had a baby daughter. Nonetheless, he faced a breakup due to allegations of infidelity.
Nearly a year after Livelsberger’s apparent suicide, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police have released new insights concerning a possible motive.
A 70-page post-crime document confirmed that Livelsberger had left a ‘manifesto’ on his phone before the incident.
The Department of War has classified this document and currently has no plans to make it publicly available.
While the LVMPD has stated that the manifesto is classified, they have disclosed some of its contents.
Authorities reported that Livelsberger’s note indicated the attack wasn’t terrorism-related but was intended as a means to ‘cleanse’ his mind, while criticizing the ‘feckless leaders’ of a US ‘near collapse.’
In his notes app, part of it read: “This was not a terrorist attack, it was a wake up call.
“Americans only pay attention to spectacles and violence. What better way to get my point across than a stunt with fireworks and explosives.”
The LVMPD clarified that they have no authority to release Livelsberger’s manifesto.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in a mental health crisis, help is available through Mental Health America. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org. You can also reach the Crisis Text Line by texting MHA to 741741.