Matthew Livelsberger’s military record explored amid Las Vegas Cybertruck explosion

Matthew Linelsberger has been identified as the man behind the fatal explosion involving a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas on January 1, 2025.

During a press conference on January 2, Sheriff of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Kevin McMahill, confirmed that 37-year-old Matthew Livelsberger was an active member of the U.S. Army.

Among the items found in the Tesla Cybertruck that Matthew is suspected of driving, which was rented through the Turo app, were a military identification card, a passport, a Desert Eagle .50-caliber semi-automatic pistol along with additional firearms, several fireworks, an iPhone, a smartwatch, and various credit cards.

Matthew Livelsberger's military past

Matthew, born on July 22, 1987, hailed from Colorado Springs. However, he was reportedly on authorized leave from Germany, where he was stationed with the 10th Special Forces Group, as confirmed by Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Sherrif Kevin McMahill.

According to his LinkedIn profile, the alleged Matthew Livelsberger worked for the U.S. Army from 2004 to 2024, holding various roles, including Special Forces Operations Manager (2023-2024), Special Forces Intelligence and Operations Specialist (2015-2023), and Hyperspectral Imaging Integrator at General Dynamics (2011-2012).

Livelsberger completed his bachelor's degree in Strategic Studies and Defense Analysis at Norwich University (2016-2019) and earned unmanned aerial systems and project management certifications.

Matthew's military service included a deployment to Afghanistan in 2009. The Department of Defense (DOD) confirmed that Matthew served as a Green Beret operations sergeant in the U.S. Army, with a significant portion of his career spent at Fort Carson, Colorado, and in Germany.

Green Berets are recognized for their expertise in unconventional warfare, often using guerrilla tactics to counter terrorism in global conflict zones, as outlined on the U.S. Army's official site. In addition to his Green Beret service, Matthew also had stints in the National Guard and the Army Reserve.

Matthew Livelsberger's family speaks out

Matthew Livelsberger's family is speaking out in the wake of the explosion. His uncle, Dean Livelsberger, described the 37-year-old Green Beret as a "true patriot," emphasizing his dedication to the country. Dean said:

“He used to have all patriotic stuff on Facebook, he was 100 percent loving the country. He loved Trump, and he was always a very, very patriotic soldier, a patriotic American. It’s one of the reasons he was in Special Forces for so many years. It wasn’t just one tour of duty.”

Dean, whose brother Roger is Matthew’s father and a Vietnam War veteran, was shocked to learn that his nephew had been identified as the person responsible for the incident. Initially, he assumed the explosion was due to a malfunction with one of the vehicle's lithium batteries. Although relieved that the blast resulted in only minor injuries, Dean expressed concern over the nature of the explosive device, which involved propane tanks, fireworks, and camping fuel.

Meanwhile, The New York Post reported that law enforcement sources revealed that Matthew’s wife had ended their marriage just days before the explosion on December 26. The couple had been experiencing personal issues, with Matthew leaving their Colorado Springs home shortly after Christmas following an argument about infidelity. Sources close to the investigation confirmed that his wife had confronted him about his alleged cheating.

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Matthew Livelsberger's most recent assignment was at Camp Panzer Kaserne, located just south of Stuttgart, Germany, where he served as a remote and autonomous systems manager for the Army.

With a military career spanning nearly two decades, Livelsberger joined the Green Berets in 2006, as noted on his LinkedIn profile.

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