Las Vegas, Nevada – The morning after the New Year’s holiday brought a disturbing incident on the Las Vegas Strip: A Tesla Cybertruck reportedly packed with fireworks and possibly other incendiary materials exploded near the entrance of the Trump International Hotel, killing one person and injuring at least seven more. Authorities are now investigating whether the explosion has any link to an earlier, deadlier attack in New Orleans that left 15 people dead and dozens injured.
Here’s what we know so far, according to officials from the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD), FBI, and witness accounts.
- Date and Time: Around 8:40 a.m. local time on Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025.
- Location: The porte cochère—the covered driveway area—at Trump International Hotel Las Vegas, located just off the Las Vegas Strip on Fashion Show Drive.
- Vehicles: A Tesla Cybertruck (2024 model) pulled up, then erupted into a fireball. Videos on social media show an immediate plume of flames and bright bursts that witnesses describe as “firework-like effects.”
Sheriff Kevin McMahill of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said investigators found gas canisters, camp fuel canisters, and large firework mortars in the truck bed. It’s unclear exactly how they were ignited. The driver—the only person in the vehicle—was killed instantly in the blast.
At least seven other people nearby sustained minor burns, cuts, or smoke inhalation injuries. They were treated by medical personnel, some on-site and some transported to local hospitals. None of the injuries besides the driver’s death were considered life-threatening.
Possible Connection to New Orleans Attack
Just hours earlier, a different tragedy unfolded in New Orleans, Louisiana, when a pickup truck crashed through police barricades on Bourbon Street during New Year’s festivities. That incident left 15 people dead and dozens more injured; the suspect, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, was shot and killed at the scene. According to President Joe Biden, Jabbar was “inspired by ISIS.”
While the New Orleans attack and the Las Vegas explosion have not been definitively linked, the closeness of their timing—both early on Jan. 1—and the fact that both involved vehicles rigged with explosives or incendiary items has prompted deeper scrutiny. Sheriff McMahill described the Las Vegas event as an “isolated incident,” but acknowledged that investigators “have not ruled out a connection” to the New Orleans terror act.
Also Read
Jeremy Schwartz, the acting FBI special agent in charge in Las Vegas, said the agency is examining whether the explosion “was an act of terrorism or not.” Given the similarity of explosive materials, the FBI wants to see if any extremist ideology or shared planning connects the driver in Las Vegas to Jabbar in New Orleans.
The Tesla Cybertruck: “Functioning Properly,” says Musk
Elon Musk, chief executive of Tesla, released a statement on X (formerly Twitter) saying that the Cybertruck itself did not malfunction but rather “the explosion was caused by very large fireworks and/or a bomb carried in the bed of the rented Cybertruck.” Musk insisted that the vehicle’s battery and electric systems were not at fault. Tesla has not elaborated on how the driver—allegedly traveling from Colorado—gained access to or installed the fireworks or possible explosives.
Tesla is also investigating on its end, especially because the Cybertruck is still a relatively new vehicle on the market. Meanwhile, the Trump International Hotel confirmed that the explosion happened just outside the lobby entrance doors.
The Suspected Driver: Name Undisclosed, Rented Via Turo
Sheriff McMahill said the driver had rented the Cybertruck in Colorado using Turo, a peer-to-peer carsharing platform that has now been linked to both the Las Vegas and New Orleans attacks. Authorities used charging station footage to track the truck’s route from Colorado to Las Vegas.
While the police declined to publicly identify the renter pending next-of-kin notification and further investigation, they did confirm he was the only occupant of the vehicle. Turo released a statement Wednesday evening saying it is cooperating fully with authorities:
“We do not believe that either renter involved in the Las Vegas and New Orleans attacks had a criminal background that would have identified them as a security threat. We remain deeply concerned about this incident and are providing all pertinent data to investigators.”
Elon Musk also emphasized that the truck was apparently operating normally until the explosion, and from the evidence on the scene, it appears the driver may have intentionally ignited the fireworks and fuel canisters.
Witness Accounts: Chaos in the Hotel Driveway
Several hotel guests and passersby described the frightening moment:
- Oscar Terol, visiting from Barcelona, Spain, was walking toward the lobby entrance with his wife but paused at a food cart about 10 seconds before the explosion. He credits that momentary delay with saving their lives. “We saw a burst of red, green, and yellow flames coming out of the truck,” Terol told local media. “It looked like fireworks at first, then we realized it was much more dangerous.”
- Todd Hansen, staying on the 27th floor of Trump Las Vegas, heard a series of loud pops around 8:40 a.m. He descended by elevator to investigate. “The elevator area was filling with people, and the staff was directing us away from the lobby,” Hansen said. “When I finally caught a glimpse outside, thick smoke and sprinklers were going off near the entrance.”
- Kerri Ford from Wisconsin said she was getting coffee when she was suddenly told to evacuate. Ford, who was set to be married that afternoon, became distraught upon realizing her wedding dress and marriage license were still in the room. Hotel staff later allowed her escorted access to retrieve these essential items once the immediate threat was over.
Eric Trump, speaking on behalf of the Trump Organization, posted on social media that the safety of guests and staff was their top priority. He added that the area was promptly evacuated, and no further injuries occurred due to falling debris or smoke inhalation.
Police and FBI Response
Authorities quickly locked down the immediate vicinity of Trump International Hotel, sealing off traffic on nearby streets. The major concerns:
- Secondary Explosives: Sheriff McMahill said they found “gas canisters, camp fuel canisters, and large firework mortars” in the truck bed. The bomb squad systematically searched for additional devices around the vehicle and inside the hotel entrance area.
- Investigation of Motive: Jeremy Schwartz, FBI acting special agent in charge in Las Vegas, explained that their primary question is whether this was an extremist-driven act, an isolated personal vendetta, or an accidental outcome of improperly stored fireworks (albeit with a suspicious impetus).
- Connections to New Orleans Attack: President Biden had stated that the New Orleans suspect, Shamsud-Din Jabbar, was “inspired by ISIS.” The FBI aims to determine if the Las Vegas driver shared that ideology or had any direct link to Jabbar. As of Wednesday evening, no conclusive evidence has surfaced, but the timeline and circumstances are too similar to ignore.
No Indication of a Larger ISIS Plot, But Questions Remain
Despite initial concerns about potential ISIS involvement in the Vegas blast, no direct proof has emerged tying the suspect to a known terror cell or extremist group. Sheriff McMahill maintained that while the separate nature of the two attacks might suggest no wide-scale conspiracy, the “investigation remains ongoing,” and they haven’t fully ruled out a copycat element or shared radicalization.
President Joe Biden also weighed in, noting that investigators in both cities are coordinating to ensure there is “no remaining threat to the American people.” He mentioned that “thus far there is nothing to report on that score,” but, given the complicated circumstances, synergy between the two cases is being scrutinized carefully.
By late afternoon, the Trump International Hotel began allowing guests back into certain sections, though the driveway area remained an active crime scene. Hotel management says the building sustained relatively minor structural damage but that the odor of smoke lingered.
The charred remains of the Tesla Cybertruck sat near the front entrance for hours, as investigators collected forensic evidence. Tesla said it would assist law enforcement in analyzing the vehicle’s logs, if any survived. Elon Musk indicated Tesla’s system might hold data on location, speed, or door usage leading up to the detonation.
Tourists in Las Vegas remain on edge, recalling that large-scale gatherings around New Year’s might be potential targets. Still, local officials insist this is an “isolated incident” and that The Strip is safe for visitors. Police presence has been bolstered in tourist-heavy zones.
As the city attempts to regain its equilibrium, many questions persist: Did the Las Vegas explosion bear any ideological similarities to the New Orleans truck attack? How did the suspect, whose identity is still under wraps, obtain and transport a large stash of fireworks and fuel canisters? And could Turo—a company that has also been linked to the New Orleans suspect—unwittingly become a tool for criminals looking to rent vehicles anonymously?
For now, investigators from local law enforcement and the FBI are carefully piecing together the suspect’s route from Colorado to Las Vegas, as well as dissecting digital footprints, rental agreements, and any communications that might clarify motive. While it remains to be seen if a deeper story of radicalization or mental distress emerges, residents and travelers alike look to an uncertain aftermath: hoping no further attacks or explosions loom and awaiting clarity on why tragedy struck again so soon after the New Orleans incident.
No official statements have declared this act a terrorist attack, but as FBI agent Jeremy Schwartz said, “everyone’s interested in that word.” Whether or not it ultimately fits the legal definition, the combination of a high-profile location—Trump’s Las Vegas hotel—and the use of potentially weaponized fireworks has undeniably rattled a city famous for its glitz, hospitality, and allure. As for Turo, Tesla, and Trump International, they’ll likely spend weeks fielding questions about security lapses and user vetting, striving to ensure such a deadly scenario does not happen again.
