WADE VANDERVORT / AFP
One person is dead and seven are injured after a Tesla Cybertruck exploded outside Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, authorities said Wednesday.
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill said at a press conference that a person inside the vehicle was killed and that the other injuries had been reported to him as "minor." He said the incident did not appear to pose any further threat to the community.
"We do know who rented the truck," McMahill said. "We are looking at that individual, but I am not prepared to release the name of any of the individuals that we are looking at, at least until next of kin is notified and we have a 100% identification."
Jeremy Schwartz, the acting special agent in charge for the FBI's Las Vegas office, said his agency was trying to "determine whether this was an act of terrorism or not."
President Joe Biden said Wednesday that authorities were investigating whether there was any connection between the Las Vegas explosion and the New Orleans attack that killed 15 on Wednesday morning.
McMahill said both the Cybertruck and the New Orleans attack vehicle were rented using the car-sharing app Turo.
In a statement shared on its website on Wednesday, Turo confirmed that both vehicles were rented through its service.
"Our trust and safety team is actively partnering with law enforcement authorities to share any information that could be helpful in their investigations," the statement read.
At a press conference, McMahill described the scene of the incident.
"At 8:40 a.m. Las Vegas time, we received a report of an explosion and a fire at the Trump Towers," McMahill said. "We were told that a 2024 Cybertruck pulled up to the front of the hotel, and in fact, I can tell you that it pulled right up to the glass entrance doors of the hotel. We saw that smoke starts showing from the vehicle, and then a large explosion from the truck occurs."
McMahill said the Cybertruck's cargo bed contained gasoline canisters, fuel canisters, and "large mortar fireworks."
"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 said.
McMahill also thanked Tesla CEO Elon Musk for his help in the investigation, including gathering video footage from Tesla charging stations.
McMahill said the Trump hotel will remain closed for the time being. He said the "vast majority" of the people staying at the Trump hotel have moved to the Resorts World Las Vegas hotel.
This story is developing. Please check back for updates.
