the Tesla Cybertruck explosion<\/a> outside the Trump International Hotel Las Vegas on New Year\u2019s Day, authorities revealed on Tuesday.<\/p>\nPolice have \u201cclear evidence\u201d that Livelsberger used the generative artificial intelligence tool to \u201chelp plan his attack,\u201d Sheriff Kevin McMahill of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department told reporters during a press briefing on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Livelsberger, an active-duty Army soldier who authorities said died by suicide in the incident, asked questions about explosives and what would set off certain types of explosives, police said.<\/p>\n
McMahill said he believes this is the first case on U.S. soil in which ChatGPT\/AI helped a suspect build a device, calling it a \u201cconcerning moment\u201d and a \u201cgame changer.\u201d He added it is also \u201cinstructive\u201d for other law enforcement agencies and is releasing information where they can in the case.<\/p>\n
ABC News has reached out to OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, for comment.<\/p>\n
Through ChatGPT, the suspect looked at \u201ctrying to figure out the amount of explosives needed in order to conduct the explosion he was looking to cause,\u201d Las Vegas Assistant Sheriff Dori Koren said during the press briefing.<\/p>\n
He also used it to try to figure out where to buy fireworks, how much and how they compare to other explosive materials, Koren said. An \u201cimportant component\u201d of his inquiries involved the velocity of the bullet fired from the firearm and \u201cdetermining whether that would ignite the explosives,\u201d Koren said.<\/p>\n
Livelsberger, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound just prior to the blast, according to the Clark County coroner. Two firearms \u2014 one handgun and one rifle \u2014 were found in the vehicle, police said.<\/p>\n
The Cybertruck had over 60 pounds of pyrotechnics, and 20 gallons of fuel were poured over the fireworks and explosive material in the back of the truck, according to Kenny Cooper, assistant special agent in charge of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives\u2019 San Francisco field division.<\/p>\n
Investigators believe the muzzle flash alone could have been an ignition source for the fuel-air explosion, though several other possible sources have not been ruled out, he said.<\/p>\n
Police said Tuesday they have also recovered a six-page document on a phone found in the Cybertruck that showed a \u201cvariance of grievances and a constant evolution of his plans or intents of what he wanted to do,\u201d Koren said.<\/p>\n
In the document, the suspect was critical of the Biden administration and talked about having graphic memories of his time in battle and losing his teammates, according to Koren. He also mentioned being \u201csuper high on weed and drinking,\u201d which investigators are still working to confirm, Koren said. The document also showed his mental health struggles, which \u201cbuilds upon that potential PTSD that we\u2019re referring to,\u201d Koren said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe does transition at some point, and talks about being concerned of the media labeling them as a terrorist and that he had no intent on killing anyone else besides from himself,\u201d Koren said.<\/p>\n
Livelsberger\u2019s writings indicate he had considered planning to set off the explosion at the glass walkway at the Grand Canyon but changed his mind, for whatever reason, to the Trump Hotel, police said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe does talk about his intent to make this as public as possible,\u201d Koren said.<\/p>\n
Police believe parts of the document may be classified and are working with the Department of Defense to understand if it can all be released.<\/span><\/p>\nThe Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department last week released two additional letters<\/a> found on a cellphone retrieved from the Cybertruck. In the letters, Livelsberger said the country was being led by the \u201cweak\u201d and those out to \u201cenrich themselves,\u201d while also claiming the incident was not meant as a terrorist attack but a \u201cwake-up call.\u201d<\/p>\nIn one of the letters police say were found on his phone, Livelsberger expressed support for Donald Trump and the president-elect\u2019s allies, Elon Musk and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. He also expressed disdain for diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and income inequality and expressed a concern about homelessness, according to the letters.<\/p>\n
Livelsberger also sent an email shared by the military-themed \u201cShawn Ryan Show\u201d podcast on Friday, authorities confirmed on Tuesday. That information was sent to the FBI following the attack, federal officials said.<\/p>\n
The evidence shows Livelsberger \u201cthoughtfully prepared\u201d and acted alone in the incident, federal authorities said. He was not on the FBI\u2019s radar prior to the attack, authorities said.<\/p>\n
No one else was seriously hurt, though seven bystanders sustained minor injuries, officials said.<\/span><\/p>\nLivelsberger served as a Green Beret in the Army and was on approved leave from serving in Germany at the time of his death, a U.S. Army spokesperson said Thursday.<\/p>\n
He received extensive decorations in combat, including the Bronze Star with a \u201cV\u201d device for valor, indicating heroism under fire. Livelsberger received four more standard Bronze Star medals, according to Army records. He also earned the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with three stars. Each star represents service in a separate campaign in Afghanistan.<\/p>\n
Livelsberger had been receiving mental health assistance over the last year, a U.S. official confirmed Friday.<\/p>\n
Another U.S. official confirmed that officials thought Livelsberger was stable enough to go home for Christmas and his leave was approved.<\/p>\n
His wife, who investigators spoke to in Colorado Springs, said he had been out of the house since around Christmas after a dispute over allegations of infidelity, the official said.<\/p>\n
His wife told officials she did not believe Livelsberger would want to hurt anyone, the official told ABC News.<\/p>\n
If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide or worried about a friend or loved one, call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 for free, confidential emotional support 24 hours a day, seven days a week.<\/em><\/p>\nCopyright \u00a9 2025, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n