Cybertruck explosion: How Tesla charging stations, license plate readers aided investigation
LVMPD Sheriff Kevin McMahill holds a press conference on January 1, 2025, following the Tesla Cybertruck explosion. McMahill thanks Elon Musk for quickly assisting law enforcement.
Law enforcement officials were assisted by technology to investigate the explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck loaded with fireworks and explosives. Trump International Hotel on Wednesday in Las Vegas.
On the day of the explosion, Las Vegas Sheriff Kevin McMahill said at a press conference that Tesla CEO Elon Musk Assisted in the investigation with video footage taken at Tesla charging stations, as well as the city’s license plate reader (LPR).
“I have to thank Elon Musk. In particular, he gave us quite a bit more information about how the car locked up after the explosion, as well as being able to capture video from Tesla charging stations around the country. and he sent it directly to us, so I appreciate his help with that,” McMahill explained.
“The first indication of this car arriving in Las Vegas came from a license plate reader, so the technology has been very helpful for us in solving this problem,” he added.
A Tesla Cybertruck caught fire near the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas on Wednesday, killing the driver and injuring seven others. (EyePress News/Shutterstock/Shutterstock)
Retired New York NYPD Superintendent Paul Mauro told FOX Business that LPRs “have grown to the point where most, if not all, cities have license plate readers scattered around the city for various reasons.”
“Having Musk on board, with a prosecutor that’s really going to write the quick warrants that you need, except to try to find out if there’s another terrorist attack here, if they’re connected, etc., you’re going to get all that information. , very quickly,” he explained.
“Between that and the LPRs these days, you should be able to put together a pretty accurate and complete travel path on this guy, and I’m sure that’s what they’re working on right now, and I’m sure they’ve probably got are most of it already,” said Mauro.
ELON MUSK WAS IMMEDIATELY ATTENDED TO HELP AFTER THE CYBERTERNA EXPLOSION.
The video, captured by cameras at Tesla charging stations, was provided to law enforcement agencies investigating the explosion. (Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images/Getty Images)
McMahill said at a news conference Thursday that authorities have pieced together the route taken by the suspect, Matthew Leavelsberger, who was inside. Cybertruck full of explosives.
Leavelsberger rented the Cybertruck in Denver on Dec. 28. McMahill said from there. “We tracked his movements to Monument, Colorado on December 31. The truck was charged in Las Vegas, New Mexico and Gallup, New Mexico on the 1st charged in Holbrook, Flagstaff and Kingman, Arizona.
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The Cybertruck was loaded with explosives, including gasoline, camping fuel and fireworks. (EyePress News/Shutterstock/Shutterstock)
McMahill added that authorities are looking to identify other people who may have been using the charging stations at the same time to obtain additional video that could be used in the investigation.
Cybertruck has also been spotted entering LPR Vegas and the technology was used to trace the road that ended at the Trump International Hotel, where the blast took place, killing one person and injuring seven.
Musk and Tesla are continuing to help with the investigation, as McMahill said Thursday that the company has sent experts to try to get video from the car. assist in the investigation.
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“Many of you may know that the Cybertrucks contain a huge number of cameras. Again, Mr. Musk has sent a number of his people to arrive here this afternoon with the goal of filming the part that captured it all.” – said McMahill.
FOX Business’ Alex Nitzberg contributed to this report.
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