Who is the founder of TURO? Car rental confirms trucks in New Orleans attack and Las Vegas explosion were rented using app

The unfortunate attack in New Orleans and explosion in Las Vegas have a connection. Vehicles involved in both tragedies were rented using the Turo app.

Turo, a carsharing company based in San Francisco, allows people to rent cars, pickup trucks, and other vehicles. The company shared a statement on its official website regarding the incidents.

The statement read:

“It is with a heavy heart that we confirm that this morning’s horrific attack in New Orleans and this afternoon’s Tesla Cybertruck explosion in Las Vegas both involved vehicles rented on Turo. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families.”

Turo explained its trust and safety team collaborated with law enforcement to share relevant information for the investigation, noting that neither renter had a criminal history that would have marked them as a security threat. Additionally, there was no indication of connection between the two incidents.

Originally founded by Shelby Clark in 2009, the company has strived to create a trustworthy marketplace through advanced safety measures and a team of experienced professionals, including former law enforcement members. Turo stated the incidents were upsetting and reiterated its dedication to supporting authorities in their investigations.

The news that the Turo app was used for renting the two vehicles was confirmed by the Las Vegas police and the New Orleans pickup truck’s owner. The owner recognized it from its license plate after the images were circulated across media platforms.

The suspect was a 42-year-old Army veteran. According to officials, the connection between the two incidents is an alleged coincidence. Whether there is any connection is yet to be investigated.

Here's what we know about TURO

When Shelby founded Turo, the firm was based out of Baltimore. The platform served as a basic website for car owners to list their vehicles. Shelby distributed 10,000 flyers to attract users leading to 40 cars being uploaded.

He then focused on building demand while retaining his initial supply. This required years of iteration, leadership changes, and significant investments to establish Turo as a successful car rental marketplace.

In 2011, Andre Haddad took charge of the platform. Haddad found the concept compelling owing to its similarity to eBay, where unused assets could generate income.

He saw the platform as a way to turn depreciating assets, like cars, into revenue opportunities. Inspired by idle cars in airport lots, he recognized their potential as income-generating assets, highlighting how overlooked opportunities could create value.

In New Orleans, a man drove a pickup truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street, where people were celebrating the New Year. The incident happened at around 3:15 am (local time). According to officials, the truker drove around the barricades and into the crowd in a seemingly intentional behavior. He then fired at police officers, injuring two of them.

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The suspect passed away after being shot by the police. Explosive devices were recovered from the scene and taken away for further investigation.

Elsewhere In Las Vegas, a Tesla cybertruck exploded outside the Trump Hotel. One person dies and several were injured in the attack. The injured have reportedly sustained minor wounds. As per video footage, the cybertruck stood outside the hotel for 15 seconds before exploding.

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