The sheriff mentioned they’re aware of some coincidences but haven’t found any links yet. Authorities are looking into an explosion involving a Tesla Cybertruck that happened outside the Trump Las Vegas hotel in Nevada on Wednesday, and they’re considering it could be a potential act of terrorism, according to law enforcement officials.
Sheriff Kevin McMahill from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department told reporters that they’re checking for any ties to a deadly incident in New Orleans that occurred earlier the same day, but so far, nothing has turned up.
According to officials, the driver of the Cybertruck drove into the hotel’s valet area just before it exploded. Tragically, the driver was killed and is currently the only confirmed fatality from this incident.
Seven bystanders sustained minor injuries. McMahill noted that the truck was parked in front of the hotel for about 15 to 20 seconds before it went off. It was rented out in Colorado, and license plate readers tracked its arrival in Las Vegas on Wednesday morning.
In a twist, Sheriff McMahill revealed that Tesla CEO Elon Musk assisted with the investigation by unlocking the truck after it auto-locked due to the explosion and providing video footage of a suspect at charging stations along its route from Colorado to Las Vegas.
During a news conference, they showed video evidence featuring fireworks-style mortars, gas cans, and camping fuel containers found in the back of the truck.
Interestingly enough, multiple law enforcement sources informed ABC News that this particular Cybertruck was rented through Turo—the same app reportedly used for renting another pickup involved in that tragic attack in New Orleans. ABC has tried reaching out to Turo for their take on this situation but hasn’t heard back yet.
As the investigation unfolds, McMahill assured everyone that the explosion was a one-off event and that there’s no ongoing danger to the community. He also mentioned that authorities don’t think anyone was assisting the suspect from Las Vegas. “We believe everything is safe now,” McMahill stated.
Given its ties to President-elect Donald Trump, the property often faces threats and has increased security measures in place. On Wednesday afternoon, Musk, who is a close friend of Trump, announced that “the whole Tesla senior team is investigating this matter right now.”
He added on X (which he owns), “We’ll share more details as soon as we know anything. We’ve never encountered something like this before.” Later on X, Musk clarified: “We have confirmed that the explosion resulted from very large fireworks or a bomb in the bed of a rented Cybertruck and isn’t linked to the vehicle itself.”
It’s unclear if Musk’s statement has been verified by independent sources. An official briefed on the situation told ABC News it wasn’t related to a lithium battery explosion, despite some online speculation about it. There have been past cases where Tesla battery compartments caught fire spontaneously.
Eric Trump, Donald Trump’s son and executive vice president of the Trump Organization, commented on social media regarding what happened: “Earlier today, an electric vehicle fire was reported in the porte cochère of Trump Las Vegas,” he wrote. “The safety and well-being of our guests and staff are our top priority.
We’re really grateful to the Las Vegas Fire Department and local law enforcement for their quick response and professionalism.” The hotel also shared a message on X indicating that an electric vehicle was involved: Earlier today a reported electric vehicle fire occurred in the porte cochère of Trump Las Vegas, they stated.
The safety & well-being of our guests and staff remain our top priority. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden has been updated about the incident near Trump International Hotel Las Vegas and has instructed his team to provide any necessary federal support, according to statements from the White House.