The series of chance occurrences that initially seemed to connect the New Year’s Day tragedies in New Orleans and Las Vegas have now been overshadowed by increasing evidence pointing to the Tesla Cybertruck bombing at the Trump International Hotel as a public manifestation of a personal tragedy, as revealed by new information and interviews. Decorated U.S. Army Special Forces Master Sgt. Matthew Livelsberger sent a jumbled email to Samuel Shoemate, a retired Army intelligence officer and military analyst, on the morning of New Year’s Eve. The email detailed a range of grievances and ominous warnings related to his military service, yet provided no insight or justification for his actions. In a text disclosed by local authorities, Livelsberger expressed the need to clear his mind of the comrades he had lost and unburden himself from the weight of the lives he had taken. Additionally, in an interview on Friday, a former girlfriend of Livelsberger shared that he had told her about suffering a traumatic brain injury while serving in the Middle East. Alicia Arritt, who had an on-and-off relationship with Livelsberger from 2018 to 2021, mentioned exchanging approximately 30 texts with him in the days leading up to the bombing. She indicated that Livelsberger had given no indication of any plans to end his life or detonate a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump hotel in Las Vegas, emphasizing his love for the Army and his dedication to it. Experts highlighted that Livelsberger could be another example of the ongoing challenges faced by the U.S. military’s elite special operators, such as the increased risks of brain injuries, traumatic stress, and mental health issues. Statistics from the National Center for PTSD suggest that a significant percentage of veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts may suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health conditions. Depression rates among returning troops can be as high as 24%, underscoring the concerns about the toll that continuous exposure to combat violence can take on special forces soldiers. Livelsberger’s father mentioned to CBS News that his son had been on approved military leave in Colorado Springs with his family before embarking on his journey towards Las Vegas in a rented Cybertruck. The Pentagon stated that there were no warning signs before Livelsberger left Germany, where he was stationed with the 1st Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group. A report from CNN indicated that Livensberger had sought help from military behavioral health services on multiple occasions. Examination of Livensberger’s social media activity, conversations with close friends, and particularly his email to Shoemate suggested that he may have been grappling with these issues. Shoemate discussed the contents of the email on The Shawn Ryan Show, a podcast focused on national security, emphasizing Livensberger’s concerns about civilian casualties resulting from an airstrike in Afghanistan. Investigative efforts are ongoing to determine the authenticity of the letter and understand Livelsberger’s motivations further.
Planned and prepared for the Las Vegas bombing alone. On Sunday morning, the day after authorities say he rented the Cybertruck, Livelsberger sent Arritt photos of the Tesla and said, “I rented a Tesla Cybertruck. It’s the s***.” She also told CBS News that Livelsberger sent her playful videos of himself listening to rap on the drive to Las Vegas. Arritt said the FBI visited her after the explosion. She said they told her he had been in contact with several other women in the days leading up to the bombing. Arritt said Livelsberger suffered a traumatic brain injury before she met him while deployed in the Middle East, and he told her it caused a change in his behavior. He said he didn’t want to get treatment for it. “He felt it would ruin his career if he sought help,” she said. “All he wanted to do was deploy and get back to it.” He suffered a lot of memory problems as a result of injuries he sustained during his service, including poor concentration, brain fog, and headaches, she said. Arritt, a registered nurse, said she recognized these as symptoms of a TBI because she had worked on wards for service members with brain injuries and amputations at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center from 2008 to 2009. “I understood him, even if he didn’t know the words for it,” she said. Arritt said he had guilt over some of his actions while deployed, expressing concern that his actions may have contributed to the deaths of innocent civilians. She said Livelsberger went through periods of isolation while they were together. “He would disappear and just go cold for a couple of weeks. He was depressed, but he always wanted to get through the depression. He recognized it and he was working on it. He pushed himself hard to get through it.” Arritt described Livelsberger as kind and said she was shocked at his actions. “I never saw him angry or act impulsively, and he was always thoughtful in the things he did,” she said. “He was always the first person to jump into battle and stand up for someone else.” Many former colleagues interviewed by CBS News expressed shock and sadness, including Fardin Fetwat, a former Afghan interpreter who deployed alongside Livelsberger. Fetwat credited Livelsberger with saving his life during combat and later helping him and his family resettle in Colorado, though they had not been in contact for several years. Describing Livelsberger’s death, Fetwat said it felt like losing a brother, not just a colleague. Tiger Bech’s family on his final moments after New Orleans attack. 3 killed in Hawaii explosion caused by illegal fireworks display. Over 100 killed in Gaza Strip in the first 3 days of 2025, Hamas-run Health Ministry says.
