FBI: Las Vegas Cybertruck suspect had PTSD, "personal grievances"
Full press conference: New info on Matthew Livelsberger
Las Vegas officials provided an update on the purposeful Cybertruck explosion by Matthew Livelsberger, an active-duty Green Beret who shot himself before detonating a bomb in the vehicle. Officials are now saying they know the motive of the suspect, after releasing new video and messages from his phone.
LAS VEGAS - Investigators in Las Vegas officially identified the driver who died by suicide while triggering a Tesla Cybertruck explosion outside of a Trump hotel, and they are getting more clues to a possible motive.
Sheriff Kevin McMahill on Friday confirmed that Matthew Livelsberger, a highly decorated 37-year-old Army Green Beret, took his own life as part of a self-described "stunt" to get the attention of his fellow Americans.
Livelsberger was the only person killed in Wednesday's blast, though seven bystanders suffered minor injuries. Dept. of Defense dental records and a DNA match allowed the medical examiner to confirm his identity.
Matthew Livelsberger (via LVMPD)
RELATED: Who is Matthew Livelsberger? Driver in Cybertruck blast was Green Beret
‘Notes’ app reveals some clues to motive
What we know: Investigators say they have been able to access Livelsberger’s phone, where they found an app he used to keep a "journal," in their words. That journal contained two letters, and they released excerpts of those writings on Friday:
What we don’t know: There’s still a lot that’s not clear about Livelsberger’s state of mind and what led him to Las Vegas.
Sheriff Kevin McMahill said there’s nothing yet to indicate why Livelsberger chose the Trump International Hotel or why he rented a Tesla Cybertruck for the blast.
McMahill said there would be "more to come" about Livelsberger’s political leanings but that Livelsberger was "not opposed" to President-elect Trump.
(LVMPD image)
What they’re saying: "Although this incident is more public and more sensational than usual, it ultimately appears to be a tragic case of suicide involving a heavily decorated combat veteran who is struggling with PTSD and other issues." – Spencer Evans/Special Agent in Charge, Las Vegas Division
"They're exposed to things. They see things. They hear things. They feel things and they smell things that most normal people don't have to do. And the heroes that are serving in the military and on the front lines of America's policing, are challenged that way. And so I think we need to really pay attention to those individuals, pay attention to what mental health in America looks like. – Sheriff Kevin McMahill, LVMPD
Images of Livelsberger and his writings, released Friday by LVMPD.
What’s next: Police say they have a lot more documents and data to comb through, along with a social media trail that they hope will provide more clues about what led Livelsberger to end his own life in such a way.
Investigators are also soliciting tips at 1-800-CALL-FBI or via tips.fbi.gov.
No connection to New Orleans attack
Officials reiterated that, despite some coincidences, there appears to be no link between Livelsberger’s death and the deadly terror attack in New Orleans on the same day.
While suspected killer Shamsud-Din Jabbar was also an Army veteran who allegedly rented a truck for his attack, investigators say they have no sign that the two men ever communicated or even knew each other.