On the early hours of New Year’s Day, a shocking incident involving a Cybertruck occurred outside the Las Vegas hotel of President-elect Donald Trump. The explosion tragically resulted in the death of a suspect inside the Tesla vehicle, while seven individuals nearby sustained injuries. This alarming event has prompted law enforcement officials to initiate a thorough investigation to determine if this incident is linked to terrorism.

Critical Findings from the Investigation into the Cybertruck Incident

The Associated Press reported that investigators uncovered an array of hazardous materials, including firework mortars and canisters of camp fuel, packed into the rear of the Cybertruck. Officials from both the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police and the Clark County Fire Department verified the number of individuals affected by the explosion. As late as Wednesday afternoon, authorities were still working diligently to extract the body from the vehicle while initiating a forensic examination of the evidence found inside.

Jeremy Schwartz, representing the FBI in Las Vegas, emphasized that the primary objective is to accurately identify the individual involved. Following this, the investigation’s next focus will be to ascertain whether the explosion constitutes an act of terrorism or a separate incident altogether.

By Wednesday evening, investigators had successfully identified the individual who had rented the Cybertruck through the Turo app in Colorado. Turo has released a statement confirming their cooperation with law enforcement. However, local Sheriff Kevin McMahill stated that they will not disclose the renter’s name until they can confirm that it matches the deceased individual.

“We do not believe that either renter involved in the Las Vegas…attacks had a criminal background that would have identified them as a security threat,” the statement said.

During a news conference, footage revealed a disturbing collection of charred fireworks mortars, fuel canisters, and other explosive materials crammed into the truck’s bed. Remarkably, the truck bed walls remained intact due to the upward trajectory of the blast, which did not disperse sideways.

Elon Musk’s Crucial Role in the Cybertruck Explosion Investigation

Tesla’s CEO, Elon Musk, played a significant role in the investigation by providing valuable video footage captured from the company’s charging stations. Sheriff McMahill confirmed that this footage was essential in tracing the vehicle’s movements, revealing that it arrived in Las Vegas around 7:30 a.m. on January 1. An hour later, the deceased individual drove the Cybertruck into the valet area of the Trump International Hotel, where it remained for approximately 15 to 20 seconds before the explosion occurred.

Musk made it clear on Wednesday afternoon that the explosion was not due to any inherent malfunction of the Cybertruck. Earlier, he had assured his followers that his executive team was diligently investigating the situation, noting that the company had “never encountered anything like this before.”

“…We have now confirmed that the explosion was caused by very large fireworks and/or a bomb carried in the bed of the rented Cybertruck and is unrelated to the vehicle itself. All vehicle telemetry was positive at the time of the explosion,” he stated on X (formerly Twitter).

We have now confirmed that the explosion was caused by very large fireworks and/or a bomb carried in the bed of the rented Cybertruck and is unrelated to the vehicle itself.

All vehicle telemetry was positive at the time of the explosion. https://t.co/HRjb87YbaJ

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 1, 2025

For context, it’s important to note that Musk has recently aligned himself closely with Trump, becoming part of the former president’s inner circle. Neither Trump nor Musk were present in Las Vegas at the time of the incident; both had participated in Trump’s New Year’s Eve celebration at his estate in South Florida. Musk has contributed an estimated $250 million towards supporting Trump’s presidential campaign efforts and has frequently visited Trump’s resort. Additionally, Trump has appointed Musk, the world’s wealthiest individual, to co-direct a new initiative aimed at reducing the size and expenditure of the government.

Why does this context matter? Sheriff McMahill mentioned that the investigation is exploring potential connections between the individuals involved.

“This is a Tesla truck, and we know that Elon Musk is working with President-elect Trump, and it’s the Trump Tower,” McMahill remarked when asked about potential political ties. “So there are certainly valid concerns to investigate, and we are actively pursuing this angle.”

A witness named Ana Bruce, visiting Las Vegas from Brazil, recounted her experience, stating that she heard three distinct explosions. “The first was when we saw the fire, the second was likely the battery or something similar, and the third was the huge explosion that filled the entire area with smoke, prompting everyone to evacuate and maintain a safe distance,” she described.

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Associated Press writers Ty O’Neil, Anita Snow, Colleen Long, Zeke Miller, and Michelle L. Price contributed to this report.