USA Totem shot in head in exploded truck in Las Vegas

SDA

2.1.2025 - 22:19

dpatopbilder - SCREENSHOT - The Tesla Cybertruck that exploded in front of President-elect Trump's hotel in Las Vegas. Photo: Uncredited/Alcides Antunes/AP/dpa - ATTENTION: For editorial use only until 15.01.2025 in connection with current reporting and only with full attribution of the above credit
dpatopbilder - SCREENSHOT - The Tesla Cybertruck that exploded in front of President-elect Trump's hotel in Las Vegas. Photo: Uncredited/Alcides Antunes/AP/dpa - ATTENTION: For editorial use only until 15.01.2025 in connection with current reporting and only with full attribution of the above credit
Keystone

In the case of the exploded electric car in front of the Trump Hotel in Las Vegas, investigators believe that the person in the car shot himself in the head before the detonation. This was stated by Sheriff Kevin McMahill of the Las Vegas police at a press conference. The person had been shot in the head and a gun had been found in the footwell of the car. It was difficult to identify the person because he was burned beyond recognition.

Keystone-SDA

However, there were numerous indications that the person was Matthew Alan L. - a US soldier who had also served in Germany, said McMahill. However, final confirmation that he was really the occupant of the car could only be given after a DNA test.

Several US media outlets had previously reported, citing security circles, that the dead man in the car was L. and that he had also rented the car. The US Army then published information about the man, but made no reference to Las Vegas. According to the information, L. was a member of the Green Berets special unit and was on leave at the time of his death.

Sheriff McMahill said the 37-year-old L. had spent most of his time at the Fort Carson base in the US state of Colorado and in Germany. He had returned from Germany on authorized leave, he added. L. is originally from Colorado Springs.

According to the US Army's website, the Green Berets special unit are elite soldiers who specialize in guerrilla warfare and unconventional tactics in foreign missions. However, one of the investigators in the case said the "level" of the explosive materials handling was "not what we would expect from a person with that kind of military experience".