The family of Matthew Livelsberger, the alleged perpetrator of the New Year’s Day explosion outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, has released a statement casting doubt on the circumstances surrounding the incident. Livelsberger, a 37-year-old U.S. Army veteran with a background in special forces, tragically died in the explosion, which also injured seven bystanders and caused significant damage to the surrounding area.
Livelsberger’s uncle, Dean Livelsberger, spoke to The Independent in an interview, expressing his confusion over the event. Describing his nephew as a “big Trump supporter” and a “patriotic soldier,” Dean said he was baffled by the actions attributed to Matthew, especially considering his nephew’s deep love for his country and his military service. Dean, whose brother Roger—Matthew’s father—is a Vietnam War veteran, highlighted Matthew’s commitment to the Army, referring to him as “like a Rambo-type” who was devoted to both his military career and his country.
“He loved the Army. He used to have all patriotic stuff on Facebook, he was 100 percent loving the country,” Dean explained. “He loved Trump, and he was always a very, very patriotic soldier, a patriotic American. It’s one of the reasons he was in Special Forces for so many years. It wasn’t just one tour of duty.” Despite his pride in his nephew’s service, Dean was unaware of the details surrounding the explosion until contacted by the press. Initially, he speculated that the blast might have been caused by something unrelated, such as a malfunctioning lithium battery.
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The explosion on New Year’s Day sent shockwaves through Las Vegas, particularly because of the involvement of a vehicle and an improvised explosive device (IED). Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Sheriff Kevin McMahill held a press conference on Thursday, providing chilling details about the attack. According to McMahill, Matthew had rented a Tesla Cybertruck in Colorado, driven it to Las Vegas, and detonated an IED made from liquid fuel and fireworks. The device was reportedly designed to detonate from the driver’s seat.
But perhaps more unsettling were the details about Livelsberger’s death. Through the coroner’s office, authorities discovered that Livelsberger had sustained a gunshot wound to the head prior to the explosion. A handgun was reportedly recovered near his body, and investigators are working to determine whether the gunshot was self-inflicted or if another individual was involved in the incident.
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Dean Livelsberger expressed skepticism regarding his nephew’s involvement in the explosion. Drawing on Matthew’s extensive training and military experience, Dean questioned whether it made sense for someone with his skills to construct such a rudimentary and inefficient device. “Matt was a very skilled warrior, and he would be able to make—if it was him, and if he did this—he would’ve been able to make a more sophisticated explosive than using propane tanks and camping fuel,” Dean remarked. “He was what you might call a ‘supersoldier.’ If you ever read about the things he was awarded, and the experience he had, some of it doesn’t make sense, when he had the skills and ability to make something more, let’s say, ‘efficient.’ His skills were enormous from what he had been taught in the military.”
Dean further argued that if Matthew had truly intended to cause harm, he could have easily created a far more devastating device. “He could have fashioned a bomb that would have obliterated half of that hotel. Think of Oklahoma City,” Dean said, referring to the infamous bombing by Timothy McVeigh. “McVeigh was just a normal soldier. Not a Tier 1 operator like Matt.”
This revelation has left many puzzled. Was Matthew Livelsberger truly responsible for the tragic events that took place outside the Trump International Hotel, or is there more to the story than meets the eye?
The personal life of Livelsberger also raises further questions. He had divorced his first wife, who now resides in South Florida with her new husband. In contrast, Matthew was reportedly happy in his relationship with his current partner, with whom he had a newborn child. Dean revealed that Matthew had shared a photo on Facebook of himself holding the baby in September. Additionally, Dean noted that several photos Matthew had posted from Germany—such as those showing his proposal and the engagement ring—had mysteriously “disappeared” from his social media profiles, raising concerns about potential alterations to his online presence before the incident.
Dean also mentioned the complicated dynamics within the Livelsberger family. Although Matthew’s father, Roger, has been married multiple times and has children with various partners, Dean emphasized that Matthew had always been close to the family. Despite some distance between his brother Roger and himself over the years, Dean stated, “Matt wasn’t estranged from the family at all. Everyone thought the world of Matt.”
The explosion in Las Vegas has raised more questions than answers, and as investigators continue to piece together the circumstances surrounding the event, the story of Matthew Livelsberger remains shrouded in mystery. Was it a deliberate act of violence, or was there some other, more complex explanation for the tragic incident that left both Livelsberger and several innocent bystanders dead or injured? As the investigation unfolds, more details may come to light that could change our understanding of what happened that fateful day.
Ryan Bennett is a Creative Story Writer with a passion for crafting compelling narratives that captivate and inspire readers. With years of experience in storytelling and content creation, Ryan has honed his skills at Bengali Media, where he specializes in weaving unique and memorable stories for a diverse audience.
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