Cybertruck explosion: How Tesla charging stations, license plate readers helped the investigation

Law enforcement officials received technological assistance in their investigation into the explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck packed with explosives and explosives at the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas on Wednesday.

Las Vegas Sheriff Kevin McMahill said in a press conference on the day of the explosion that Tesla CEO Elon Musk assisted the investigation with videos taken from Tesla charging stations, as well as the city’s license plate reader (LPR) system.

“I have to thank Elon Musk. Specifically, he gave us more information about how the car was locked after the explosion due to the energy situation of the explosion, and being able to capture everything. video from Tesla charging stations around the country and sent it to us directly, so I appreciate his help with that,” explained McMahill.

“The first sign of that car arriving here in Las Vegas is from a license plate reader, so the technology has been very helpful for us in solving this,” he added.

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Retired NYPD Inspector Paul Mauro told FOX Business in an interview that LPRs “have grown to the point where most, if not all, cities have license plate readers scattered around the city for a variety of reasons.”

“With Musk on board, with a prosecutor who will write emergency letters that you need without trying to find out if there are other terrorist attacks here, are they connected, etc., you will get all that information. , very quickly,” he explained.

“Between that and LPRs these days, you’ve got to be able to put together an accurate and complete itinerary for this guy and I’m sure that’s what they’re working on now and I’m sure they’ve probably got a lot of it,” Mauro said.

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Video taken by cameras at Tesla charging stations was provided to law enforcement officials investigating the explosion. (Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images/Getty Images)

McMahill said in a press conference on Thursday that the authorities have tracked down the suspect, Matthew Livelsberger, who was inside a Cybertruck that was full of explosives.

Livelsberger rented a Cybertruck in Denver on Dec. 28. McMahill said from there, “We tracked his movements from Tesla charging stations to Monument, Colorado, on Dec. 30. On Dec. 31, the truck was charged in Trinidad, Colorado. ; Las Vegas, New Mexico and Albuquerque and Gallup, New Mexico On Jan. 1, the truck was charged in Holbrook, Flagstaff and Kingman, Arizona.”

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The Cybertruck was full of explosives, including gasoline, camping fuel and fireworks. (EyePress News/Shutterstock/Shutterstock)

McMahill added that authorities are looking to identify other people who may have been using the charging stations at the same time in order to obtain additional video that can be used in the investigation.

The Cybertruck was also spotted by LPRs entering Las Vegas and the technology was used to track the route that ended at the Trump International Hotel, where the explosion took place. One person died and seven were injured in the blast.

Musk and Tesla continue to assist the investigation, with McMahill noting Thursday that the company has sent experts to try to get video from the car to aid the investigation.

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“Most of you don’t know that Cybertrucks contain a lot of cameras. Also, Mr. Musk has sent a number of his followers to come here this afternoon with the intention of trying to capture part of the … interior of the truck,” said McMahill.

FOX Business’ Alex Nitzberg contributed to this report.