The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) believes that Matthew Livelsberger, the soldier who blew up a van in front of Donald Trump’s hotel in Las Vegas, suffered from combat post-traumatic stress disorder and that what happened points to an act of suicide prior to the detonation.
Livelsberger, 37 years old and an active member of the US Army Special Forces, took his own life with a shot to the head moments before the fireworks and gas cylinders he was carrying in the vehicle, a rented Tesla Cybertruck van, exploded. The explosion injured seven people.
The soldier left a note in which he declared what he was going to do as “a warning call to all comrades, veterans and Americans” and denounced the power elites as a group of “weakling and irresponsible people who only seek to enrich themselves.”
“Americans only pay attention to spectacle and violence. What better way to get my message across than with a show of fireworks and explosives? Why am I doing it now? Because I need to clear my mind of the brothers I’ve lost and free myself from the burden of the lives I’ve taken,” the soldier lamented.
“Although this incident is more public and more sensational than usual, ultimately it appears to be a tragic case of suicide involving a highly decorated combat veteran who was struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder and other issues,” FBI special agent Spencer Evans explained at a press conference last night.
US security forces continue to investigate the deceased’s belongings and for the moment rule out that he chose Trump’s hotel because of animosity towards the president-elect.
Livelsberger had served in the US Army since 2006 and had a long career of overseas tours of duty, including two deployments to Afghanistan and tours of duty in Ukraine, Tajikistan, Georgia and the Democratic Republic of Congo. He had recently returned from an overseas tour of duty in Germany and was on leave when he died, US public broadcaster PBS reports.
The deceased was awarded five Bronze Stars, including one with distinction for courage under fire, a Combat Infantryman Badge and an Army Commendation Medal for valor.
