Family of Cybertruck bomber Matthew Livelsberger say he was skilled enough to 'take down entire Trump hotel'

The Las Vegas Cybertruck bomber was a highly-trained military expert who certainly was skilled enough to have blown up Donald Trump's Las Vegas hotel .

'He could have taken that whole building down if he wanted to,' a close family source told DailyMail.com. 

'He was working on drone programs in recent months, the ones that dropped bombs on people.'

Matthew Livelsberger's family are reeling from the decorated soldier's decision to end his life by shooting himself in the head seconds before his Tesla Cybertruck exploded.

Seven people were injured in the blast outside the Trump International Hotel on New Year's Day.

The insider described the soldier as a 'great American', painting a picture of a honorable serviceman, father, and patriot who was devoted to his job as an expert operator in the Army's Special Forces. 

'He loved the military. He joined straight out of high school,' the source told DailyMail.com on Friday.    

Livelsberger, 37, a decorated Green Beret who oversaw the operations and maintenance of drones within his Special Forces unit, had spent nearly two decades in the military. 

He joined the Army straight out of Bucyrus High School in a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio, and rose through the ranks quickly.

He went on to take on specialized critical roles in intelligence and security throughout his career, at one point even working protection for the US Ambassador to Congo, according to relatives.

The family had last spoken to Livelsberger on Christmas Day and described him as being in 'great spirits.'

'He was with his wife and kids, he had plans for the future,' the source said.

'I know he had his demons, but we are all shocked.' 

Livelsberger, an Afghanistan veteran had recently accepted a role as a remote and autonomous systems manager while stationed at Camp Panzer Kaserne just southwest of Stuttgart, Germany, in November.

The family source said he had been working on military drone programs in recent months.

'He had been working on drones, the ones that drop bombs all around the world' the insider said. 

He had been on a break from duty which allowed him to return to the US.

Livelsberger's body was burned beyond recognition in the explosion and was identified through his tattoos, Sheriff Kevin McMahill said on Thursday. 

Police found credit cards, his passport and military ID on him. 

The weapons found in the truck were purchased legally on December 30, 2024. 

The electric vehicle, which was rented on the app Turo, exploded about 15 seconds after the driver pulled up in front of the hotel's entrance. 

He had picked it up in Colorado Springs, Colorado and driven more than 800 miless through three states to get to Vegas.

Police are still looking for a motive for the attack. 

Sheriff McMahill addressed similarities between the terror act in Vegas and the one in New Orleans by Texas native Shamsud-din Jabbar, 42, who flew an ISIS flag as he slaughtered 14 and injured dozens with a rented truck.

Both served at the Fort Bragg –now renamed Fort Liberty – in North Carolina, but officials do not know if they ever crossed paths. 

Both also served in Afghanistan in 2009 however officials say they have seen no evidence they were in the same providence or unit. That remains under investigation. 

Livelsberger served in the Green Berets, highly trained special forces who work to counter terrorism abroad and train partners, the Army said in a statement. 

He had been in the Army since 2006, rising through the ranks with a long career of overseas assignments, deploying twice to Afghanistan and serving in Ukraine, Tajikistan, Georgia, and Congo, the Army said. 

Livelsberger was awarded two Bronze Stars, including one with a valor device for courage under fire, a combat infantry badge and an Army Commendation Medal with valor. 

Livelsberger was on approved leave when he died, according to the statement. 

He was married to social worker Sara Livelsberger, who has said she had not heard from him for days before his apparent suicide. 

His uncle Dean Livelsberger told The Independent that his nephew was '100 percent a patriot', and described him as a 'Rambo-type.'

'He used to have all patriotic stuff on Facebook, he was 100 percent loving the country,' he continued. 

'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.'

Video showed a tumble of charred fireworks mortars, canisters and other explosive devices crowded into the back of the pickup. 

The truck bed walls were still intact because the blast shot straight up rather than to the sides.