The newly released investigative dossier on the Cybertruck blast outside Trump Tower lays out grisly details and leaves more questions than answers about motive, intent, and how a decorated soldier ended up detonating a vehicle in downtown Las Vegas. The file names the attacker, describes what went into the truck, and confirms the presence of a classified “manifesto” on his phone. The case now sits at the intersection of national security, veteran care, and political accountability.
Law enforcement published a 70-page report on Monday that identifies Matthew Livelsberger, 37, as the man who carried out the attack. The report notes Livelsberger was an active member of the Army Green Berets and that a “manifesto” on his phone was treated as classified material by the Department of War. Those facts narrow down who he was but not why he did it.
According to the dossier, Livelsberger loaded the vehicle with fireworks, gas tanks, and camping fuel before setting it on fire and “simultaneously” shooting himself on January 1, 2025. The blaze triggered a massive explosion that damaged surrounding structures and sent shock through the hotel. Investigators say the blast had the potential for much worse consequences.
Six people inside the hotel were injured in the incident, officials report, a grim reminder that even a single act can ripple outward and harm innocents. While criminal and coronial work continues, families and bystanders are left to deal with the aftermath. The human toll forces a sharper look at the circumstances that led up to the attack.
Although the manifesto itself will not be released to the public, the Las Vegas Metro Police Department report provides several clues about possible motives and state of mind. Investigators recovered notes and messages on his phone and in apps, and one entry referenced cleansing the mind while sending a message to the country’s leadership. The report quotes his language about “feckless leadership” and the country’s decline, hinting at political frustration mixed with personal turmoil.
One message left in the phone’s Notes app claimed the act was not intended as terrorism and framed it as a desperate attempt to get attention. “This was not a terrorist attack, it was a wake up call. Americans only pay attention to spectacles and violence. What better way to get my point across than a stunt with fireworks and explosives,” the message read. That passage is included verbatim in the police file, and it shows the attacker tried to control how history would label what he did.
The report also documents that one note was sent to Shawn Ryan, a former Navy SEAL, CIA contractor, and podcast host; that communication has not been made public in full. Law enforcement officials describe the explosion in stark terms: “a premeditated attack involving a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device, with the potential to cause mass casualties and extensive structural damage.” Those exact words underline how seriously authorities treat the incident.
Beyond the quotes and the classified manifesto, the case raises hard questions about veteran care, command oversight, and the handling of sensitive material by defense and law enforcement agencies. Republicans concerned with law and order will point to the need for clarity about how a Green Beret came to be classified as a danger to the public and why crucial evidence carries that level of secrecy. The file as released forces lawmakers and agencies to confront gaps without offering neat answers.
Officials continue to probe motive and timeline while families seek explanations for why a man who served his country took such a violent path. The investigation touches national security, public safety, and political rhetoric at once, and the few released facts are likely to keep the debate active. For now, the dossier sets the record on what happened and leaves the rest for investigators to sort out.
