Cybertruck explosion: How Tesla charging stations, license plate readers helped the investigation

Law enforcement officials were helped by technology to investigate the explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck that was loaded with fireworks and explosive materials on Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas on Wednesday.

Las Vegas Sheriff Kevin McMahill said at a press conference the day of the explosion that Tesla CEO Elon Musk assisted the investigation with videos recorded at Tesla charging stations as well as the city’s license plate reader (LPR) system.

“I have to thank Elon Musk. In particular, he gave us a lot of additional information about how the vehicle was locked after it exploded due to the nature of the force of the explosion, as well as being able to capture all the video from Tesla charging stations around the country and sending it directly to us, so I appreciate his help with that,” McMahill explained.

“The first indication that that vehicle arrived here in Las Vegas came from a license plate reader, so the technology was very helpful for us in solving this,” he added.

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Retired NYPD Inspector Paul Mauro said in an interview with FOX Business that LPRs “have grown to the point where most cities, if not all, have license plate readers scattered around the city for various reasons.”

“With Musk on board, with a prosecutor actually writing the fast-track warrants that you need, with the exception of the immediate effort to determine if there’s another terrorist attack here, if they’re connected, etc., you’re going to get all that information very quickly, very quickly “, he explained.

“Between that and the LPRs these days, you should be able to put together a pretty accurate and comprehensive travel itinerary on this guy and I’m sure that’s what they’re working on now and I’m sure they’ve probably got most of it already,” he said Mauro.

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McMahill said at a press conference Thursday that authorities have pieced together the route taken by suspect Matthew Livelsberger, who was inside Cybertruck with explosives.

Livelsberger rented a Cybertruck in Denver on December 28. From there, McMahill said, “We tracked its movement through Tesla charging stations to Monument, Colorado on December 30. On December 31, the truck was charged in Trinidad, Colorado; Las Vegas, New Mexico and Albuquerque, New Mexico on January 1 . the truck was charged in Holbrook, Flagstaff and Kingman, Arizona.”

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McMahill added that authorities want 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.

The Cybertruck was also spotted by LPRs entering Las Vegas and the technology was used to track a trail that ended at the Trump International Hotel, where the explosion occurred. In the explosion, one person died and seven were injured.

Musk and Tesla continue to assist the investigation, as McMahill noted Thursday that the company has sent experts to try to retrieve video from the vehicle at to help 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 few of his people who will be arriving here this afternoon with the intention of trying to film the part … that captured all of this from inside the truck,” he said. McMahill.

FOX Business’ Alex Nitzberg contributed to this report.