Tesla Cybertruck That Exploded in Front of Trump Hotel in Las Vegas Was Packed with Fireworks and Gas Canisters: Police

Mar. 15, 2025

TheTesla Cybertruck that explodedoutside of the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas on Jan. 1 was packed with fireworks and gas canisters, police have said.

One person died and seven people suffered injuries, but are now all stable, after the vehicle exploded outside the hotel at around 8:40 a.m. local time on New Year’s Day, authorities said in a press conference shared onFacebook.

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill showed a video of the Cybertruck exploding, with what appeared to be fireworks going off. Showing another clip, the officer explained that authorities had covered the vehicle in a tarp to try and get the fire to go out, before they removed it to show the evidence in the back of the vehicle.

McMahill said they’d found “gasoline canisters,” “camp fuel canisters” and “large firework mortars,” as the screen panned to the evidence.

A photo of the moment a Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas.EyePress News/Shutterstoc

EyePress News/Shutterstoc

“The fact that this was a Cybertruck really limited the damage that occurred inside of the valet,” McMahill told reporters, commenting on the fact the exterior of the truck appeared to be intact, as it “had most of the blast go up through the truck and out.”

A photo of the Tesla Cybertruck that exploded outside the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas.Las Vegas Metropolitan Police/Youtube

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police/Youtube

During the conference, McMahill confirmed the truck had been rented in Colorado via the Turo app and that officers had been able to trace it through the Tesla charging stations.

He also said that the vehicle had been driven up and down Las Vegas Boulevard before the hotel explosion after arriving in the city at around 7:30 a.m.

McMahill told reporters that authorities know who rented the vehicle, but the individual hasn’t yet been identified to the public.

When questioned about possible links to theNew Orleans attackon New Year’s Day thatkilled at least 15 people, the sheriff said they were “absolutely investigating any connectivity to what happened in New Orleans as well as other attacks that have been occurring around the world.”

“We’re not ruling anything out,” he added.

A photo outside the Trump International Hotel Las Vegas on Jan. 1, 2025.Ethan Miller/Getty

Ethan Miller/Getty

Acting special agent in charge for the FBI in Las Vegas, Jeremy Schwartz, said during the conference, “Our number one goal is to ensure that we have the proper identification of the subject involved in this incident."

When questioned about a potential political connection regarding the explosion, McMahill said, “It’s a Tesla truck, and we know that Elon Musk is working with President-elect Trump, and it’s the Trump Tower."

“So there’s obviously things to be concerned about and it’s something we continue to look at,” the sheriff said.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up forPEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletterfor breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

McMahill mentioned that Tesla CEOMuskhad been cooperating with authorities, and Musk has also been commenting on the incident on his social media platformX(formerly known as Twitter).

“All vehicle telemetry was positive at the time of the explosion,” he added on X.

While deliveringa speech regarding the New Orleans attackon Wednesday, Jan. 1, PresidentJoe Bidenalso commented on the possible links between the two incidents.

“Thus far, there is nothing to report … at this time,” he said.

source: people.com