LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — The man who exploded a Tesla Cybertruck outside of the Las Vegas Trump hotel, killing himself, had alcohol and marijuana in his system and had planned on meeting a Navy Seal who was selling him drones, according to court documents.
Matthew Livelsberger, 37, drove from Colorado Springs, Colorado, to Las Vegas and exploded fireworks and other materials outside the Trump International Hotel near the Las Vegas Strip on Jan. 1.
Livelsberger died from a single gunshot wound to his head, documents said, with the coroner’s office ruling his death a suicide in May. Toxicology results showed alcohol and THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, in his blood at the time of his death, documents said.
Livelsberger also had benzene in his stomach fluid, though that may be a result of the fire and explosion. Benzene is “found in gasoline and paint removers,” according to the coroner’s office.
Livelsberger was stationed in Germany, the Army confirmed after his death. He returned to his home in Colorado on Dec. 21, 2024, his wife told investigators at the Clark County coroner’s office. At the time, he planned to return to his assignment in Germany in early January.
While in Colorado, Livelsberger planned to meet with a Navy Seal who was selling him drones, documents said. However, Livelsberger and his wife had an argument, and he canceled the trip.
On Dec. 29, Livelsberger left his home, writing what his wife referred to as a “Goodbye” email where he said, “things like their daughter will find another daddy,” documents said.
The rented Cybertruck truck was first spotted on surveillance video in Las Vegas on Jan. 1 around 7:30 a.m. Shortly afterward, a camera captured the truck driving through the valet area by the entrance of the hotel and leaving. The Cybertruck was tracked through surveillance video as it moved along the Las Vegas Strip and stopped for some time in a business parking lot at Flamingo Road and Las Vegas Boulevard before returning to the hotel around 8:40 a.m. — 17 seconds before the explosion.
Officials with the FBI and ATF said in January that they suspected the explosion happened simultaneously with the gunshot. They located a handgun and rifle charred on the floorboard, documents said.
“The Shawn Ryan Show,” a podcast, first shared an email reportedly from Livelsberger, which, among other things, discussed American and Chinese drone programs. Afterward, Las Vegas Metro police shared some of Livelsberger’s writings they located after the explosion, which they described as containing a variety of “grievances and issues, some political, some personal.”
In January, police shared one excerpt from the first letter: “Fellow servicemembers, Veterans, and all Americans. TIME TO WAKE UP! We are being led by weak and feckless leadership who only serve to enrich themselves.”
Another included a line for Americans to “rally” behind President-elect Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Even with those statements in the letters, the FBI said in January there was no indication why Livelsberger chose the Trump hotel and used a Tesla Cybertruck in the bombing, as it did not appear Livelsberger disliked either man.
Livelsberger had a history of post-traumatic stress disorder and was receiving treatment at the time of his death, documents said. His blood also tested positive for fluoxetine, the medication commonly known as Prozac. The FBI previously declined to discuss the contents of Livelsberger’s writings other than the excerpts released.
Livelsberger was last deployed overseas in 2021 to Georgia. He deployed five times to Afghanistan, the Army said after his death.
Help is available 24/7 by calling the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.
