Las Vegas Police Commend Elon Musk for Assistance in Cybertruck Explosion Investigation

The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) has expressed gratitude to Tesla CEO Elon Musk for his cooperation following the explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump International Hotel on New Year’s Day.

Las Police Praise Musk’s Contribution

LVMPD Sheriff Kevin McMahill highlighted Musk’s role during a press conference on Wednesday:

“I have to thank Elon Musk specifically,” McMahill stated. “He gave us quite a bit of additional information regarding how the vehicle was locked after it exploded due to the nature of the force, as well as capturing all of the video from Tesla charging stations across the country. He sent that directly to us, so I appreciate his help on that.”

Details of the Cybertruck Explosion

The incident occurred at 8:40 a.m. local time and resulted in one fatality—the driver—and seven injuries. Sheriff McMahill described the contents of the Cybertruck’s cargo bed, which included gasoline canisters, fuel canisters, and “larger mortar fireworks.” Investigators, led by the FBI, are working to determine if the blast was an act of terrorism.

Musk’s Comments on the Incident

Elon Musk weighed in on the explosion via a post on X (formerly Twitter), echoing the sheriff’s assessment of the vehicle’s design:

“The evil knuckleheads picked the wrong vehicle for a terrorist attack. Cybertruck actually contained the explosion and directed the blast upwards,” Musk wrote.

Limiting Damage with Cybertruck’s Design

Sheriff McMahill credited the Cybertruck’s structure for minimizing the explosion’s impact:

“The fact that this was a Cybertruck really limited the damage that occurred inside of the valet because it had most of the blast go up through the truck and out,” McMahill noted.

He added:

“In fact, if you look on that video, you’ll see that the front glass doors of the Trump hotel were not even broken by that blast, which they were parked directly in front of.”

Video Evidence Shown

During the press conference, authorities presented video footage of the destroyed Cybertruck. While the cargo bed was extensively damaged by the explosion, the vehicle’s hull remained mostly intact.

Ongoing Investigation

The FBI is continuing its investigation to determine whether the incident was a terrorist act. The cooperation between Tesla and law enforcement is expected to assist significantly in understanding the sequence of events and the intentions of the suspect.