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LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – One person was killed and seven others were injured when a Tesla Cybertruck exploded at the front entrance of the Las Vegas Trump International Hotel Wednesday morning.
Police said the act was intentional, adding that the car had gas cans and fireworks in the back. Video shows a vehicle parked next to the hotel’s main entrance bursting into flames.
The car was rented in Colorado through the car-sharing company Turo, officials told 8 News Now, and the automaker’s CEO Elon Musk said.
New Year’s Day began at around 8:40 a.m. when Clark County firefighters and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department responded to an explosion and fire in the 2000 block of Fashion Show Drive, across from Fashion Show Mall and just west of the Las Vegas Strip. It wasn’t even eight hours since dawn. .
At a news conference Wednesday afternoon, Sheriff Kevin McMahill said after extinguishing the fire, police found gas canisters, camping fuel and a large fireworks mortar in the bed of the truck.
A Tesla Cybertruck exploded at the front entrance of the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas on Wednesday morning, killing one person and injuring seven others. (LVMPD) Clark County firefighters and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department responded to an explosion and fire around 8:40 a.m. in the 2000 block of Fashion Show Drive, across from Fashion Show Mall and just west of the Las Vegas Strip. (LVMPD) Clark County firefighters and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department responded to an explosion and fire around 8:40 a.m. in the 2000 block of Fashion Show Drive, across from Fashion Show Mall and just west of the Las Vegas Strip. (LVMPD) Las Vegas Metro Police have released the back of a Tesla Cybertruck that was carrying gasoline, camping fuel canisters and a large fireworks mortar. (LVMPD)
McMahill said police did not find any device inside the truck that may have been used to ignite the explosion, and it is unclear at this time how it started.
Police have identified the person who rented the truck, but were not ready to release his name as of Wednesday night. A social post containing one person’s name was incorrect, officials told 8 News Now.
Police tracked the truck through a Tesla charging station camera and discovered it arrived in Las Vegas around 7:30 a.m. The truck then drove up and down Las Vegas Boulevard for about an hour before entering the entrance to the Trump Hotel. McMahill said the truck remained in front of the hotel for about 15 to 20 seconds before exploding.
Elon Musk posts on social media that Cybertruck explosion was caused by fireworks or a bomb
McMahill said at a news conference that the Tesla Cybertruck that exploded in Las Vegas and the pickup truck that plowed into revelers in New Orleans, killing 15 people, were both borrowed from Turo.
FBI Acting Special Agent in Charge Jeremy Schwartz said the agency is determining whether the explosion was a terrorist attack, but believes it was an isolated incident and there is no threat to the public.
On January 1, 2025, a Tesla Cybertruck caught fire at the entrance to Trump International Tower in Las Vegas. (Credit: Alcides Antunes)
“I don’t think there are a lot of people who would support this at this point or support any danger to the community,” Schwartz said.
Asked if there was a connection to ISIS in the explosion, McMahill said there was no indication there was a connection to Las Vegas.
“Although there are no overt ISIS flags like those seen in New Orleans, we are once again investigating all aspects of this matter,” McMahill said.
Asked about the connection between the vehicle used and the location of the explosion, Mr McMahill admitted there was some concern about the connection.
“This is a Tesla truck, we know Elon Musk is working with President-elect Trump, it’s Trump Tower, so obviously there are concerns and we continue to do so,” McMahill said. We are keeping a close eye on it.”
Mr. McMahill also thanked Mr. Musk for his cooperation in the investigation.
“He provided us with considerable additional information regarding how the vehicle was locked after the explosion due to the nature of the force of the explosion.”
Two of the seven injured were taken to UMC for treatment. McMahill said all the injuries were minor and all were treated and released by Wednesday evening.
A witness, who requested anonymity, provided photos of smoke after a car fire at Trump International Tower near the Las Vegas Strip on January 1, 2025.
McMahill approved LVMPD’s New Year’s Eve staffing plan to continue for the next two days. The plan includes deploying more than 1,000 police officers in local communities and along the Las Vegas Strip to ensure adequate resources are available in the event of a copycat or other attack.
The sound of an explosion followed by a plume of smoke caused anxiety for people staying in and near the hotel. One witness, who requested anonymity and was staying at Resorts World on the Las Vegas Strip, said he heard several loud bangs.
“The sound of glass shaking was very loud,” he said. “When I looked outside, I saw smoke, so me and my wife booked from there,” he said.
Guests at the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas are evacuated after a vehicle fire and explosion on January 1, 2025. (KLAS) Police shut down Sammy Davis Jr. Drive at Fashion Show Drive near the Trump International Hotel after a vehicle fire. (KLAS)) Guests at Trump International Hotel Las Vegas evacuate following vehicle fire and explosion on January 1, 2025. (KLAS) Police block Sammy Davis Jr.’s drive on Fashion Show Drive near the Trump International Hotel. car fire. (KLAS)) Police shut down Sammy Davis Jr. Drive at Fashion Show Drive near the Trump International Hotel after a car fire. (KLAS)) Guests at Trump International Hotel Las Vegas evacuate following vehicle fire and explosion on January 1, 2025. (KLAS) Police block Sammy Davis Jr.’s drive on Fashion Show Drive near the Trump International Hotel. car fire. (KLAS)) Guests at the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas are evacuated after a vehicle fire and explosion on January 1, 2025. (KLAS)
Guests who were on their way to check out of the hotel were seen walking along the sidewalk carrying their luggage. Police said the hotel was eventually evacuated and guests were taken to Resorts World while the investigation was ongoing.
Guests told 8 News Now that the evacuation was chaotic and it appeared there was no evacuation plan in place.
This is a joint investigation with federal, state, and local authorities.
Sammy Davis Jr. Drive was closed at Fashion Show Drive.
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