The soldier, Matthew Livelsberger, was found dead in the rubble of the New Year’s Eve explosion outside a Trump hotel.
Authorities in the United States investigating the explosion of a Cybertruck in front of a Trump-branded hotel in Las Vegas have released new details about the motivation for the explosion.
On Friday, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigators said the soldier behind the blast appeared to be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.
“Although this incident is more public and sensational than usual, ultimately it appears to be a tragic case of suicide involving a highly decorated combat veteran who was struggling with PTSD and other issues,” explained Spencer Evans, Agent the FBI special in charge. at a press conference.
The FBI added that there was no evidence that the soldier, 37-year-old Matthew Livelsberger, had animosity against President-elect Donald Trump, despite the apparent location and details of the blast.
The cybertrucks are made by Tesla, the electric vehicle company founded by Trump supporter Elon Musk.
A coroner’s report indicates that Livelsberger died by suicide shortly before the explosion. His body was found in the charred remains of the Cybertruck and a handgun was discovered by his feet.
The explosion prompted widespread speculation on New Year’s Day as the US grappled with a suspected “terrorist attack” in the city of New Orleans that killed 14 people.
Seven people suffered minor injuries when the rented Cybertruck exploded in the butler’s circle outside the glass doors of the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas the same day.
A person, later identified as Livelsberger, was also found dead at the scene. The car was filled with fireworks and fuel canisters.
Friday’s press conference coincided with the release of portions of a note Livelsberger left behind explaining his motivation for the blast.
In the note, Livelsperger — an Army Green Beret who served in Afghanistan and other places — described feeling the need to “clear my mind” of “the burden of the lives I took.”
“This was not a terrorist attack, it was a wake-up call,” Livelsperger wrote. “Americans pay attention only to spectacles and violence. What better way to get my point across than a stunt with fireworks and explosives.”
A native of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Livelsperger had served in the military in various roles since 2006, and he had received five bronze stars for his achievements.
He was on an approved leave of absence when he took his life.
The suspect in the New Orleans attack, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, was also a military veteran. He intentionally rammed a rented Ford pickup truck into a New Year’s Eve crowd on Bourbon Street before dying in a shootout with police.
No connection has been found between the two incidents, although investigators have said they are exploring every possible lead.
On Friday, a former girlfriend of Livelsperger, nurse Alicia Arritt, told The Washington Post that the Green Beret suffered from deep guilt about his experiences in combat.
She suspects his symptoms, which included a hazy memory, could have resulted from a head injury or body trauma.
“He wanted to get more help,” Arritt told the Post in her interview. “I think it was even more difficult for him, being on active duty — the shame and the stigma.”
A neighbor, Cindy Helwig, told The Associated Press that she remembered Livelsperger recently coming to her for a tool to fix his SUV.
“He was a normal guy,” she said.
