CNN reported that speaking at a press conference, Las Vegas Police Chief Kevin McMahill said the car fire was reported at around 8:40 a.m. (local time) on January 1, 2025. When firefighters arrived at the scene, a Tesla Cybertruck pickup truck was engulfed in flames.
“There was a deceased person inside the vehicle, but we have not yet determined whether it was a male or female,” Mr. McMahill said.
In addition, seven other victims suffered minor injuries from the explosion.
Surveillance video shows the Cybertruck passing the Trump Hotel about an hour before the explosion, then turning around and stopping in front of the hotel seconds before the explosion.
According to investigators, the explosives found in the car included fireworks, gas cylinders and camping fuel, connected to a driver-controlled detonation system.
The Cybertruck was rented through the service Turo. Police are also looking into whether there is any connection between the explosion and the attack in New Orleans, where a suspect used a car rented through Turo to plow into a crowd.
On social network X, Elon Musk confirmed: "The explosion was caused by a large amount of fireworks and/or bombs placed on the rental car's bed. This issue is not related to the Cybertruck."
“The safety of our guests and employees is our top priority,” wrote Eric Trump, executive vice president of the Trump Organization. “We are grateful to the fire and police departments for their swift and professional response.”
“I looked out the window and saw a big column of smoke coming from near the Trump hotel,” said Galit Ventura Rozen, a guest at a nearby hotel. “Then there were at least three ambulances and several police cars.”
Sheriff McMahill said his team is checking for other suspicious devices to ensure public safety. There are currently no other known threats in Las Vegas.
“The Cybertruck, the Trump Hotel — there are a lot of questions that we have to answer as we continue to investigate,” McMahill said.
