LAS VEGAS (AP) — The person who died in the explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck packed with explosives outside President-elect Donald Trump’s Las Vegas hotel was an active-duty U.S. Army soldier, officials said Thursday.

(Click below to watch police video of the explosion)

Two law enforcement officials identified the man inside the futuristic-looking pickup truck as Matthew Livelsberger. The officials spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation.

Livelsberger was a member of the Army’s elite Green Berets, a special forces unit and guerrilla warfare experts, according to an Army statement. He has served in the Army since 2006, rising through the ranks, and was on approved leave when he died, the statement said. The Green Berets work to counter terrorists abroad using unconventional techniques.

Livelsberger spent time at the base formerly known as Fort Bragg, a massive Army base in North Carolina that is home to Army special forces command.

The FBI said Thursday in a post on X that it was “conducting law enforcement activity” at a home in Colorado Springs related to Wednesday's explosion but provided no other details.

The explosion of the truck, packed with firework mortars and camp fuel canisters, came hours after 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-orleans-car-bourbon-street-1685016388d65039ce62e720aab2ba14">rammed a truck into a crowd</a>&nbsp;in New Orleans’ famed French Quarter early on New Year’s Day, killing at least 15 people before being shot to death by police. That crash was being investigated as a terrorist attack and police believe the driver was not acting alone.

Jabbar, a U.S. Army veteran, also spent time at Fort Bragg, now called Fort Liberty, but one official said so far there is no overlap in their assignments there.

The investigation so far has not shown the incidents in Las Vegas and New Orleans are related, and authorities don’t think the men knew each other, the two law enforcement officials said.

Seven people nearby suffered minor injuries when the Tesla truck exploded.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk said Wednesday afternoon on X that “we have now confirmed that the explosion was caused by very large fireworks and/or a bomb carried in the bed of the rented Cybertruck and is unrelated to the vehicle itself."

"All vehicle telemetry was positive at the time of the explosion,” Musk wrote.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1735777581543.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>LAS VEGAS (AP) — The person who died in the explosion of a Tesla Cybertruck packed with explosives outside President-elect Donald Trump’s Las Vegas hotel was an active-duty U.S. Army soldier, officials said Thursday.(Click below to watch police video of the explosion)<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FLasVegasMetro%2Fvideos%2F1763169784264920%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=570" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>Two law enforcement officials identified the man inside the futuristic-looking pickup truck as Matthew Livelsberger. The officials spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1735777500419.jpeg" alt="Fire crews on the scene after the explosion on Wednesday.-image Las Vegas Police" />
 <figcaption>Fire crews on the scene after the explosion on Wednesday.-image Las Vegas Police</figcaption>
 </figure>Livelsberger was a member of the Army’s elite Green Berets, a special forces unit and guerrilla warfare experts, according to an Army statement. He has served in the Army since 2006, rising through the ranks, and was on approved leave when he died, the statement said. The Green Berets work to counter terrorists abroad using unconventional techniques.Livelsberger spent time at the base formerly known as Fort Bragg, a massive Army base in North Carolina that is home to Army special forces command.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1735778174814.png" alt="Police found remains of fireworks, gas canisters, lighter fluid and other explosives in the bed of the cybertruck-image Las Vegas Police" />
 <figcaption>Police found remains of fireworks, gas canisters, lighter fluid and other explosives in the bed of the cybertruck-image Las Vegas Police</figcaption>
 </figure>The FBI said Thursday in a post on X that it was “conducting law enforcement activity” at a home in Colorado Springs related to Wednesday's explosion but provided no other details.The explosion of the truck, packed with firework mortars and camp fuel canisters, came hours after 42-year-old Shamsud-Din Bahar Jabbar&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-orleans-car-bourbon-street-1685016388d65039ce62e720aab2ba14">rammed a truck into a crowd</a>&nbsp;in New Orleans’ famed French Quarter early on New Year’s Day, killing at least 15 people before being shot to death by police. That crash was being investigated as a terrorist attack and police believe the driver was not acting alone.Jabbar, a U.S. Army veteran, also spent time at Fort Bragg, now called Fort Liberty, but one official said so far there is no overlap in their assignments there.The investigation so far has not shown the incidents in Las Vegas and New Orleans are related, and authorities don’t think the men knew each other, the two law enforcement officials said.Seven people nearby suffered minor injuries when the Tesla truck exploded.Tesla CEO Elon Musk said Wednesday afternoon on X that “we have now confirmed that the explosion was caused by very large fireworks and/or a bomb carried in the bed of the rented Cybertruck and is unrelated to the vehicle itself.""All vehicle telemetry was positive at the time of the explosion,” Musk wrote.

 Driver in Tesla explosion at Trump Hotel was US Army Green Beret

RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating alleged theft by deception at a business in Riley County.

Just before 2p.m. Tuesday, officers filed a report of theft by deception in the 300 block of Main Street in Riley, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.

Meat Works of Kansas reported the business was deceived by email for the purchase of 15,000 pounds of ground beef by an unknown subject. 

Total estimated loss associated with this report is $60,000. 

Anyone with information can contact&nbsp;<a href="https://rileycountypolice.org/287/Crime-Stoppers">Crime Stoppers</a>. Using Crime Stoppers allows you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1735831295761.png" alt="Meat Works Google image" />
 <figcaption>Meat Works Google image</figcaption>
 </figure>RILEY COUNTY—Law enforcement are investigating alleged theft by deception at a business in Riley County.Just before 2p.m. Tuesday, officers filed a report of theft by deception in the 300 block of Main Street in Riley, according to the Riley County Police Department activity report.Meat Works of Kansas reported the business was deceived by email for the purchase of 15,000 pounds of ground beef by an unknown subject. Total estimated loss associated with this report is $60,000. Anyone with information can contact&nbsp;<a href="https://rileycountypolice.org/287/Crime-Stoppers">Crime Stoppers</a>. Using Crime Stoppers allows you to remain anonymous and could qualify you for a cash reward of up to $1,000.

Email scam involving 15,000 pounds of ground beef at Kan. business

SUMNER COUNTY —Two people died in an accident that occurred early Thursday morning in Sumner County.

The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2028 Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by Michael Keefer, 63, Rose Hill, was southbound on the Kansas Turnpike at the Mulvane exit.

The Jeep struck a 2020 Chevy Express van and trailer driven by Tiburcio Gonzalez, 55, Circle Pines, Minnesota, that was overturned in the southbound lanes

Ernestina Eumana-Alvarez, 58 and a boy identified as Christian Gutierrez, both of Minneapolis, Minnesota, died. The KHP could not verify the child's age.

EMS transported Gonzalez, five other adults and a 1-year-old boy in the van to area hospitals. Keefer and two passengers in the Jeep had minor injuries. The boy who died was not in a child safety seat, according to the KHP.&nbsp;

 Despite the report of a cattle truck involved, according to the Mulvane Fire and Rescue, the KHP did include the vehicle in the crash report.

SUMNER COUNTY — The Kansas Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal accident that occurred early Thursday in Sumner County.

According to Mulvane Fire and Rescue, the multiple vehicle accident including a semi hauling cattle on the Kansas Turnpike closed southbound traffic at the Mulvane exit.&nbsp; Two people were pinned in vehicles and 6 people were transported to local area hospitals.&nbsp;

A total of 12 people were treated for injuries. Two refused transport, according to Mulvane Fire and Rescue.

Check the post for additional details including the names of the victims as they become available.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1735824759796.png" alt="Photo Mulvane Fire and Rescue" />
 <figcaption>Photo Mulvane Fire and Rescue</figcaption>
 </figure>SUMNER COUNTY —Two people died in an accident that occurred early Thursday morning in Sumner County.The Kansas Highway Patrol reported a 2028 Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by Michael Keefer, 63, Rose Hill, was southbound on the Kansas Turnpike at the Mulvane exit.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1735824812709.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Jeep struck a 2020 Chevy Express van and trailer driven by Tiburcio Gonzalez, 55, Circle Pines, Minnesota, that was overturned in the southbound lanesErnestina Eumana-Alvarez, 58 and a boy identified as Christian Gutierrez, both of Minneapolis, Minnesota, died. The KHP could not verify the child's age.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1735824791793.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>EMS transported Gonzalez, five other adults and a 1-year-old boy in the van to area hospitals. Keefer and two passengers in the Jeep had minor injuries. The boy who died was not in a child safety seat, according to the KHP.&nbsp; Despite the report of a cattle truck involved, according to the Mulvane Fire and Rescue, the KHP did include the vehicle in the crash report.---------------SUMNER COUNTY — The Kansas Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal accident that occurred early Thursday in Sumner County.According to Mulvane Fire and Rescue, the multiple vehicle accident including a semi hauling cattle on the Kansas Turnpike closed southbound traffic at the Mulvane exit.&nbsp; Two people were pinned in vehicles and 6 people were transported to local area hospitals.&nbsp;A total of 12 people were treated for injuries. Two refused transport, according to Mulvane Fire and Rescue.Check the post for additional details including the names of the victims as they become available.

KHP IDs woman, boy who died in crash on the Kansas Turnpike

KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement are investigating the first homicide of 2025 in Kansas City.

Just before 3a.m. patrol officers were dispatched to the 3100 block of Elmwood in Kansas City on a reported shooting, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.

When they arrived to the area they were directed to a residence on Elmwood. Officers located a man later identified as 41-year-old Calvin L. Bushnell suffering from gunshot wounds. Emergency medical personnel responded and pronounced the him deceased. 

An additional adult male shooting victim was also located. He was transported to a local hospital with non life threatening injuries.This is being investigated as a homicide. 

The preliminary investigation revealed there were several people gathered at a residence prior to shots being fired. Investigators are trying to determine what led up to the victims being struck.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1735739093640.png" alt="Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte" />
 <figcaption>Photo Sheriff Daryl Forte</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY—Law enforcement are investigating the first homicide of 2025 in Kansas City.Just before 3a.m. patrol officers were dispatched to the 3100 block of Elmwood in Kansas City on a reported shooting, according to KCPD Sergeant Phil DiMartino.When they arrived to the area they were directed to a residence on Elmwood. Officers located a man later identified as 41-year-old Calvin L. Bushnell suffering from gunshot wounds. Emergency medical personnel responded and pronounced the him deceased. An additional adult male shooting victim was also located. He was transported to a local hospital with non life threatening injuries.This is being investigated as a homicide. The preliminary investigation revealed there were several people gathered at a residence prior to shots being fired. Investigators are trying to determine what led up to the victims being struck.

Police: 1 dead, 1 injured in first Kansas City homicide of 2025

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A U.S. Army veteran who drove a pickup truck into a crowd of New Year’s revelers in New Orleans,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-orleans-killed-crash-terrorist-attack-9f2fbcc3e48d8b391590f60969e80e61">killing 15 people</a>, had posted videos to social media hours before the carnage saying he was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-orleans-crash-islamic-state-lone-wolves-4bb6446c484737fbe9dd1b9c26a899a9">inspired by the Islamic State group</a>&nbsp;and expressing a desire to kill, the president said.

The FBI said it was investigating&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-orleans-car-bourbon-street-1685016388d65039ce62e720aab2ba14">early Wednesday’s attack</a>&nbsp;in which the driver steered around a police blockade and slammed into revelers before being shot dead by police as a terrorist act and did not believe he acted alone.

Investigators found guns and what appeared to be an improvised explosive device in the vehicle — which bore the flag of the Islamic State group — along with other explosive devices elsewhere in the city’s famed French Quarter.

President Joe Biden said Wednesday evening that the FBI found the videos the driver posted to social media. He called the attack a “despicable” and “heinous act.”

The rampage turned festive Bourbon Street into a macabre scene of maimed victims, bloodied bodies and pedestrians fleeing for safety inside nightclubs and restaurants. In addition to the dead, dozens of people were hurt. A college football playoff game at the nearby Superdome&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sugar-bowl-mass-casualty-650b5773a37f0eaa2b03f4412c835674">was postponed until Thursday</a>.

Zion Parsons, 18, of Gulfport, Mississippi, said he saw the truck “barreling through, throwing people like in a movie scene, throwing people into the air.”

“Bodies, bodies all up and down the street, everybody screaming and hollering,” said Parsons, whose friend Nikyra Dedeaux was among the people killed.

“This is not just an act of terrorism. This is evil,” New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said.

The attack is the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-orleans-vehicle-ramming-attacks-8af368ea95bea1eec9bc15ebaf43f7ec">latest example of a vehicle being used as a weapon</a>&nbsp;to carry out mass violence and the deadliest IS-inspired assault on U.S. soil in years.

The driver “defeated” safety measures in place to protect pedestrians, Kirkpatrick said, and was “hell-bent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did.”

The FBI identified the driver as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, a U.S. citizen from Texas, and said it was working to determine any potential associations with terrorist organizations.

“We do not believe that Jabbar was solely responsible," FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Alethea Duncan said at a news conference.

Investigators found multiple improvised explosives, including two pipe bombs that were concealed within coolers and wired for remote detonation, according to a Louisiana State Police intelligence bulletin obtained by The Associated Press.

The bulletin, relying on preliminary information gathered soon after the attack, also cited surveillance footage that it said showed three men and a woman placing one of the devices, but federal officials did not immediately confirm that detail and it wasn’t clear who they were or what connection they had to the attack, if any.

Jabbar drove a rented pickup truck onto a sidewalk, going around a police car that was positioned to block vehicular traffic, authorities said. A barrier system meant to prevent vehicle attacks was being repaired&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-new-orleans-7001f6f459065b18646fe0d253bd0d34">in preparation for the Super Bowl in February</a>.

Jabbar was killed by police after he exited the truck and opened fire on responding officers, Kirkpatrick said. Three officers returned fire. Two were shot and are in stable condition.

Investigators recovered a handgun and AR-style rifle, according to a law enforcement official who was not authorized to discuss the investigation publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

There were also deadly explosions in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fireworks-accident-two-dead-honolulu-1075a875d2f881516dde4e412d21fd7d">Honolulu</a>&nbsp;and outside a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hotel-vehicle-fire-las-vegas-ad4c171c7a6af64f08db93d9fdc2d749">Las Vegas</a>&nbsp;hotel owned by President-elect Donald Trump. President Joe Biden said the FBI was looking into whether the Las Vegas explosion was connected to the New Orleans attack but had “nothing to report” as of Wednesday evening.

A photo circulated among law enforcement officials showed a bearded Jabbar wearing camouflage next to the truck after he was killed. The intelligence bulletin obtained by the AP said he was wearing a ballistic vest and helmet. The flag of the Islamic State group was on the truck's trailer hitch, the FBI said.

“For those people who don’t believe in objective evil, all you have to do is look at what happened in our city early this morning," U.S. Sen. John Kennedy, a Louisiana Republican, said. "If this doesn’t trigger the gag reflex of every American, every fair-minded American, I’ll be very surprised.”

Jabbar joined the Army in 2007, serving on active duty in human resources and information technology and deploying to Afghanistan from 2009 to 2010, the service said. He transferred to the Army Reserve in 2015 and left in 2020 with the rank of staff sergeant.

Hours after the attack, several coroner’s office vans were parked on the corner of Bourbon and Canal streets, cordoned off by police tape with crowds of dazed tourists standing around, some trying to navigate their luggage through the labyrinth of blockades.

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry urged people to avoid the area, which remained an active crime scene.

“We looked out our front door and saw caution tape and dead silence and it’s eerie,” said Tessa Cundiff, an Indiana native who moved to the French Quarter a few years ago. "This is not what we fell in love with, it’s sad.”

Nearby, life went on as normal in the city known to some for a motto that translates to “let the good times roll.” At a cafe a block from where the truck came to rest, people crowded in for breakfast as upbeat pop music played. Two blocks away, people drank at a bar, seemingly as if nothing happened.

Biden, speaking from the presidential retreat at Camp David, addressed the victims and the people of New Orleans: “I want you to know I grieve with you. Our nation grieves with you as you mourn and as you heal.”

“My heart goes out to the victims and their families who were simply trying to celebrate the holiday,” Biden said in an earlier written statement. “There is no justification for violence of any kind, and we will not tolerate any attack on any of our nation’s communities.”

FBI officials have repeatedly warned about an elevated international terrorism threat due to the Israel-Hamas war. In the last year, the agency has disrupted other potential attacks, including in October when it arrested an Afghan man in Oklahoma for an alleged Election Day plot targeting large crowds.

Tucker reported from Washington, D.C. and Mustian reported from Black Mountain, North Carolina. Associated Press reporters Stephen Smith, Chevel Johnson and Brett Martel in New Orleans; Jeff Martin in Atlanta; Alanna Durkin Richer, Tara Copp and Zeke Miller in Washington, D.C.; Darlene Superville in New Castle, Delaware; Colleen Long in West Palm Beach, Florida; and Michael R. Sisak in New York contributed to this report.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A U.S. Army veteran who drove a pickup truck into a crowd of New Year’s revelers in New Orleans,&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-orleans-killed-crash-terrorist-attack-9f2fbcc3e48d8b391590f60969e80e61">killing 15 people</a>, had posted videos to social media hours before the carnage saying he was&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-orleans-crash-islamic-state-lone-wolves-4bb6446c484737fbe9dd1b9c26a899a9">inspired by the Islamic State group</a>&nbsp;and expressing a desire to kill, the president said.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President Biden on New Orleans Attack: &quot;I&#39;ve directed my team to make sure every resource is made available to federal, state and local law enforcement to complete the investigation in New Orleans quickly and to make sure there is no remaining threat to the American people.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/wXzAV8lPme">pic.twitter.com/wXzAV8lPme</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1874611759413375032?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 2, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>The FBI said it was investigating&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-orleans-car-bourbon-street-1685016388d65039ce62e720aab2ba14">early Wednesday’s attack</a>&nbsp;in which the driver steered around a police blockade and slammed into revelers before being shot dead by police as a terrorist act and did not believe he acted alone.Investigators found guns and what appeared to be an improvised explosive device in the vehicle — which bore the flag of the Islamic State group — along with other explosive devices elsewhere in the city’s famed French Quarter.President Joe Biden said Wednesday evening that the FBI found the videos the driver posted to social media. He called the attack a “despicable” and “heinous act.”The rampage turned festive Bourbon Street into a macabre scene of maimed victims, bloodied bodies and pedestrians fleeing for safety inside nightclubs and restaurants. In addition to the dead, dozens of people were hurt. A college football playoff game at the nearby Superdome&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/sugar-bowl-mass-casualty-650b5773a37f0eaa2b03f4412c835674">was postponed until Thursday</a>.Zion Parsons, 18, of Gulfport, Mississippi, said he saw the truck “barreling through, throwing people like in a movie scene, throwing people into the air.”“Bodies, bodies all up and down the street, everybody screaming and hollering,” said Parsons, whose friend Nikyra Dedeaux was among the people killed.“This is not just an act of terrorism. This is evil,” New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said.The attack is the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-orleans-vehicle-ramming-attacks-8af368ea95bea1eec9bc15ebaf43f7ec">latest example of a vehicle being used as a weapon</a>&nbsp;to carry out mass violence and the deadliest IS-inspired assault on U.S. soil in years.The driver “defeated” safety measures in place to protect pedestrians, Kirkpatrick said, and was “hell-bent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did.”The FBI identified the driver as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, a U.S. citizen from Texas, and said it was working to determine any potential associations with terrorist organizations.“We do not believe that Jabbar was solely responsible," FBI Assistant Special Agent in Charge Alethea Duncan said at a news conference.Investigators found multiple improvised explosives, including two pipe bombs that were concealed within coolers and wired for remote detonation, according to a Louisiana State Police intelligence bulletin obtained by The Associated Press.The bulletin, relying on preliminary information gathered soon after the attack, also cited surveillance footage that it said showed three men and a woman placing one of the devices, but federal officials did not immediately confirm that detail and it wasn’t clear who they were or what connection they had to the attack, if any.Jabbar drove a rented pickup truck onto a sidewalk, going around a police car that was positioned to block vehicular traffic, authorities said. A barrier system meant to prevent vehicle attacks was being repaired&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/super-bowl-new-orleans-7001f6f459065b18646fe0d253bd0d34">in preparation for the Super Bowl in February</a>.Jabbar was killed by police after he exited the truck and opened fire on responding officers, Kirkpatrick said. Three officers returned fire. Two were shot and are in stable condition.Investigators recovered a handgun and AR-style rifle, according to a law enforcement official who was not authorized to discuss the investigation publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.There were also deadly explosions in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/fireworks-accident-two-dead-honolulu-1075a875d2f881516dde4e412d21fd7d">Honolulu</a>&nbsp;and outside a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-hotel-vehicle-fire-las-vegas-ad4c171c7a6af64f08db93d9fdc2d749">Las Vegas</a>&nbsp;hotel owned by President-elect Donald Trump. President Joe Biden said the FBI was looking into whether the Las Vegas explosion was connected to the New Orleans attack but had “nothing to report” as of Wednesday evening.A photo circulated among law enforcement officials showed a bearded Jabbar wearing camouflage next to the truck after he was killed. The intelligence bulletin obtained by the AP said he was wearing a ballistic vest and helmet. The flag of the Islamic State group was on the truck's trailer hitch, the FBI said.“For those people who don’t believe in objective evil, all you have to do is look at what happened in our city early this morning," U.S. Sen. John Kennedy, a Louisiana Republican, said. "If this doesn’t trigger the gag reflex of every American, every fair-minded American, I’ll be very surprised.”Jabbar joined the Army in 2007, serving on active duty in human resources and information technology and deploying to Afghanistan from 2009 to 2010, the service said. He transferred to the Army Reserve in 2015 and left in 2020 with the rank of staff sergeant.Hours after the attack, several coroner’s office vans were parked on the corner of Bourbon and Canal streets, cordoned off by police tape with crowds of dazed tourists standing around, some trying to navigate their luggage through the labyrinth of blockades.Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry urged people to avoid the area, which remained an active crime scene.“We looked out our front door and saw caution tape and dead silence and it’s eerie,” said Tessa Cundiff, an Indiana native who moved to the French Quarter a few years ago. "This is not what we fell in love with, it’s sad.”Nearby, life went on as normal in the city known to some for a motto that translates to “let the good times roll.” At a cafe a block from where the truck came to rest, people crowded in for breakfast as upbeat pop music played. Two blocks away, people drank at a bar, seemingly as if nothing happened.Biden, speaking from the presidential retreat at Camp David, addressed the victims and the people of New Orleans: “I want you to know I grieve with you. Our nation grieves with you as you mourn and as you heal.”“My heart goes out to the victims and their families who were simply trying to celebrate the holiday,” Biden said in an earlier written statement. “There is no justification for violence of any kind, and we will not tolerate any attack on any of our nation’s communities.”FBI officials have repeatedly warned about an elevated international terrorism threat due to the Israel-Hamas war. In the last year, the agency has disrupted other potential attacks, including in October when it arrested an Afghan man in Oklahoma for an alleged Election Day plot targeting large crowds.___Tucker reported from Washington, D.C. and Mustian reported from Black Mountain, North Carolina. Associated Press reporters Stephen Smith, Chevel Johnson and Brett Martel in New Orleans; Jeff Martin in Atlanta; Alanna Durkin Richer, Tara Copp and Zeke Miller in Washington, D.C.; Darlene Superville in New Castle, Delaware; Colleen Long in West Palm Beach, Florida; and Michael R. Sisak in New York contributed to this report.

🎥Biden: New Orleans attack suspect posted videos ‘inspired by ISIS’ 

KANSAS CITY —Kansas City fire crews&nbsp;avoided disaster when a roof partially collapsed at a vacant structure fire on New Year's Day.

Just after 11a.m. Wednesday, crews responded to a reported building fire in the 5100 block of E. 27th Street in Kansas City, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.

 Crews reported heavy smoke and fire from a two-story vacant building as they arrived. 

After several minutes of interior operations, the Incident Commander made the decision to evacuate the structure and transition to a defensive operation. 

Five to ten minutes after the evacuation was completed there was a collapse of the roof on the west end of the structure. No firefighters were injured during the collapse or throughout the operation. 

The fire was placed under control just before noon. . The cause of the fire is under investigation by KCFD.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1735815467847.jpeg" alt="Photos KCFD" />
 <figcaption>Photos KCFD</figcaption>
 </figure>KANSAS CITY —Kansas City fire crews&nbsp;avoided disaster when a roof partially collapsed at a vacant structure fire on New Year's Day.Just after 11a.m. Wednesday, crews responded to a reported building fire in the 5100 block of E. 27th Street in Kansas City, according to Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1735815505248.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure> Crews reported heavy smoke and fire from a two-story vacant building as they arrived. After several minutes of interior operations, the Incident Commander made the decision to evacuate the structure and transition to a defensive operation. Five to ten minutes after the evacuation was completed there was a collapse of the roof on the west end of the structure. No firefighters were injured during the collapse or throughout the operation. The fire was placed under control just before noon. . The cause of the fire is under investigation by KCFD.

KC fire crews avoid disaster while battling New Year's Day blaze

PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;said Tuesday that he's planning to attend the funeral of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jimmy-carter-dies-18c198c20352c835bca3eec276020dd7">former President Jimmy Carter</a>.

Asked about it as he walked into a New Year's Eve party at his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maralago-musk-brand-bukele-golf-elon-zuckerberg-4a7dfb1cec7607962ed5ca8d3ddfa347">Mar-a-Lago club</a>&nbsp;in Florida, Trump responded, "I'll be there.” Pressed on whether he'd spoken to members of Carter's family, Trump said he'd rather not say.

Funeral services honoring Carter, who died Sunday at 100, will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/president-jimmy-carter-funeral-services-d8ec9471cda40e8e0e377850f64c9905">be held</a>&nbsp;in Georgia and Washington, beginning Jan. 4 and concluding Jan. 9.

Trump was a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-biden-jimmy-carter-2024-election-6d58fb7dee75422ff555239013a6b52f">frequent and fierce critic of Carter</a>&nbsp;on the campaign trail ahead of November's election, using the rising inflation rates of the 1970s to unfavorably compare President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;to Carter and his administration.

But the president-elect was gracious about the former president in posts on his social media site after Carter's death Sunday, writing that the nation “owed him a debt of gratitude.”

“While I strongly disagreed with him philosophically and politically, I also realized that he truly loved and respected our Country, and all it stands for,” Trump wrote of Carter. “He worked hard to make America a better place, and for that I give him my highest respect.”

Wearing a tuxedo as he entered the festivities, Trump took a few minutes of questions from reporters on various topics. He was asked about the possibility of a ceasefire in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza</a>, but said only, “We’re going to see what happens."

The president-elect added of hostages seized more than a year ago by Hamas, “I’ll put it this way: They better let the hostages come back soon."

Trump also said he thought 2025 would be a “great year” and "we’re going to do fantastically well as a country.”

“There’s a whole light over the whole world, not just our country. They’re a lot of happy people,” Trump said of recent weeks.

Asked about his resolutions for the new year, Trump said, “I just want everybody to be happy, healthy and well.”

Trump later took the stage to briefly address the crowd ringing in the new year at Mar-a-Lago and promised “to do a great job as your president.”

Biden, for his part, spent New Year’s Eve celebrating the wedding of his niece Missy Owens in Greenville, Delaware, followed by the reception in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. Biden and first lady Jill Biden cut short their traditional holiday trip to the U.S. Virgin Islands to attend the ceremony.

PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President-elect&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;said Tuesday that he's planning to attend the funeral of&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/jimmy-carter-dies-18c198c20352c835bca3eec276020dd7">former President Jimmy Carter</a>.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Q: &quot;Do you plan to go to President Carter&#39;s funeral?&quot; President-elect Trump: &quot;I do. I&#39;ll be there. We were invited.&quot; Q: &quot;Have you spoken to any Carter family members?&quot; Trump: &quot;I&#39;d rather not say.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/XUeX7OpC0b">pic.twitter.com/XUeX7OpC0b</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1874271651002482889?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Asked about it as he walked into a New Year's Eve party at his&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-maralago-musk-brand-bukele-golf-elon-zuckerberg-4a7dfb1cec7607962ed5ca8d3ddfa347">Mar-a-Lago club</a>&nbsp;in Florida, Trump responded, "I'll be there.” Pressed on whether he'd spoken to members of Carter's family, Trump said he'd rather not say.Funeral services honoring Carter, who died Sunday at 100, will&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/president-jimmy-carter-funeral-services-d8ec9471cda40e8e0e377850f64c9905">be held</a>&nbsp;in Georgia and Washington, beginning Jan. 4 and concluding Jan. 9.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">President-elect Trump: &quot;They better let the hostages come back soon.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/AwGK04RrP5">pic.twitter.com/AwGK04RrP5</a>&mdash; CSPAN (@cspan) <a href="https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1874272191291789621?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Trump was a&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-biden-jimmy-carter-2024-election-6d58fb7dee75422ff555239013a6b52f">frequent and fierce critic of Carter</a>&nbsp;on the campaign trail ahead of November's election, using the rising inflation rates of the 1970s to unfavorably compare President&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a>&nbsp;to Carter and his administration.But the president-elect was gracious about the former president in posts on his social media site after Carter's death Sunday, writing that the nation “owed him a debt of gratitude.”“While I strongly disagreed with him philosophically and politically, I also realized that he truly loved and respected our Country, and all it stands for,” Trump wrote of Carter. “He worked hard to make America a better place, and for that I give him my highest respect.”Wearing a tuxedo as he entered the festivities, Trump took a few minutes of questions from reporters on various topics. He was asked about the possibility of a ceasefire in&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel's war with Hamas in Gaza</a>, but said only, “We’re going to see what happens."The president-elect added of hostages seized more than a year ago by Hamas, “I’ll put it this way: They better let the hostages come back soon."Trump also said he thought 2025 would be a “great year” and "we’re going to do fantastically well as a country.”“There’s a whole light over the whole world, not just our country. They’re a lot of happy people,” Trump said of recent weeks.Asked about his resolutions for the new year, Trump said, “I just want everybody to be happy, healthy and well.”Trump later took the stage to briefly address the crowd ringing in the new year at Mar-a-Lago and promised “to do a great job as your president.”Biden, for his part, spent New Year’s Eve celebrating the wedding of his niece Missy Owens in Greenville, Delaware, followed by the reception in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. Biden and first lady Jill Biden cut short their traditional holiday trip to the U.S. Virgin Islands to attend the ceremony.

🎥Trump talks American hostages, Jimmy Carter funeral and more

SHAWNEE COUNTY– Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a police chase in Shawnee County.

Just after 1p.m. December 29, a sheriff's deputy attempted to stop a white 2015 Hyundai Sonata for failing to obey a traffic control device in the area of SW Topeka Boulevard and SW Huntoon Street, according to Deputy Abigail Christian.

 The driver of the vehicle refused to stop, prompting a short pursuit. After a brief distance, the pursuit was terminated. The Hyundai was found in the parking lot of a business in the 2000 block of SW Topeka Blvd. where three individuals fled the scene on foot and one passenger remained inside the vehicle.

Upon investigation, it was determined that the vehicle had been reported stolen from a Topeka residence on December 28. 

Deputies located a bag containing illegal drug paraphernalia inside the vehicle. Mark A. Starkebaum, 35, of Topeka, was apprehended in the 2500 block of South Kansas Avenue and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Interference with law enforcement officers, Possession of an opiate, opium, narcotic, or certain stimulant drug, Possession of drug paraphernalia, Identity theft

Starkebaum was also arrested on two outstanding felony warrants from Shawnee County and one misdemeanor warrant from the City of Topeka.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/12/1735658111782.png" alt="Starkebaum-photo Shawnee Co." />
 <figcaption>Starkebaum-photo Shawnee Co.</figcaption>
 </figure>SHAWNEE COUNTY– Law enforcement are investigating a suspect on multiple allegations after a police chase in Shawnee County.Just after 1p.m. December 29, a sheriff's deputy attempted to stop a white 2015 Hyundai Sonata for failing to obey a traffic control device in the area of SW Topeka Boulevard and SW Huntoon Street, according to Deputy Abigail Christian. The driver of the vehicle refused to stop, prompting a short pursuit. After a brief distance, the pursuit was terminated. The Hyundai was found in the parking lot of a business in the 2000 block of SW Topeka Blvd. where three individuals fled the scene on foot and one passenger remained inside the vehicle.Upon investigation, it was determined that the vehicle had been reported stolen from a Topeka residence on December 28. Deputies located a bag containing illegal drug paraphernalia inside the vehicle. Mark A. Starkebaum, 35, of Topeka, was apprehended in the 2500 block of South Kansas Avenue and booked into the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on requested charges of Interference with law enforcement officers, Possession of an opiate, opium, narcotic, or certain stimulant drug, Possession of drug paraphernalia, Identity theftStarkebaum was also arrested on two outstanding felony warrants from Shawnee County and one misdemeanor warrant from the City of Topeka.

Wanted Kansas suspect caught driving reported stolen vehicle

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Firework mortars and camp fuel canisters were found stuffed into the back of the Tesla Cybertruck that exploded outside President-elect Donald Trump's Las Vegas hotel early Wednesday, killing a suspect inside the vehicle and sparking an intense investigation into possible terrorism.

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police and Clark County Fire Department officials said that a person died inside the futuristic-looking pickup truck and seven people nearby suffered minor injuries.

By late Wednesday afternoon, authorities were still working to get the body out of the vehicle and start processing the evidence inside. President Joe Biden was briefed on the explosion.

“Our number one goal is to ensure that we have the proper identification of the subject involved in this incident,” said Jeremy Schwartz, acting special agent in charge for the FBI’s Las Vegas office, “Following that, our second objective is to determine whether this was an act of terrorism or not.”

Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill said authorities know who rented the truck with the Turo app in Colorado, but are not releasing the name until investigators determine if it is the same person who died.

McMahill said video captured at Telsa charging stations provided by CEO Elon Musk helped authorities track the vehicle’s journey, arriving in Las Vegas about 7:30 AM. then driving about an hour later into the valet area of the Trump International Hotel, where it sat 15 to 20 seconds before the explosion occurred.

Video presented at an afternoon news conference showed a tumble of charred fireworks mortars, cannisters and other explosive devices crowded into the back of the pickup. The truck bed walls were still intact because the blast shot straight up rather than to the sides.

Musk said Wednesday afternoon on X that “we have now confirmed that the explosion was caused by very large fireworks and/or a bomb carried in the bed of the rented Cybertruck and is unrelated to the vehicle itself. All vehicle telemetry was positive at the time of the explosion.”

In an earlier post on the platform Musk said that his entire senior term was investigating the explosion, adding, “We’ve never seen anything like this.”

Musk has recently become a member of Trump's inner circle. Neither Trump nor Musk were in Las Vegas early Wednesday. Both had attended Trump’s New Year’s Eve party at Trump’s estate in South Florida.

Musk spent an estimated $250 million during the presidential campaign to support the former president. He was at Trump’s resort on election night and has been a frequent guest there. Trump has named Musk, the world’s richest man, to co-lead a new effort to find ways to cut the government’s size and spending.

“This is a Tesla truck, and we know that Elon Musk is working with President-elect Trump, and it’s the Trump Tower,” McMahill said when reporters asked about possible political connections. “So there’s obviously things to be concerned about and it’s something we continue to look at.”

The truck explosion came hours after a driver&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-orleans-car-bourbon-street-1685016388d65039ce62e720aab2ba14">rammed a truck into a crowd</a>&nbsp;in New Orleans’ famed French Quarter early on New Year’s Day, killing at least 15 people before being shot to death by police. That crash was being investigated as a terrorist attack and police believe the driver was not acting alone.

“We are absolutely investigating any connectivity to what happened in New Orleans as well as other attacks that have been occurring around the world,” McMahill said. “We aren't ruling anything out.”

In a statement, Turo said it was working with authorities.

“We do not believe that either renter involved in the Las Vegas and New Orleans attacks had a criminal background that would have identified them as a security threat," the statement said.

In Las Vegas, witness Ana Bruce, visiting from Brazil, said she heard three explosions.

“The first one where we saw the fire, the second one, I guess, was the battery or something like that, and the third was the big one that smoked the entire area and was the moment when everyone was told to evacuate and stay away,” Bruce said.

Her travel companion, Alcides Antunes, showed video he took of flames lapping the sides of the silver-colored vehicle.

The 64-story hotel is just off the Las Vegas Strip and across the street from the Fashion Show Las Vegas shopping mall.

Eric Trump, a son of the president-elect and executive vice president of the Trump Organization,&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/EricTrump/status/1874514306848440399">posted about the fire</a>&nbsp;on the social media platform X. He praised the fire department and local law enforcement “for their swift response and professionalism.”

LAS VEGAS (AP) — One person died and seven others were injured Wednesday when a Tesla Cybertruck that appeared to be carrying fireworks caught fire and exploded outside President-elect Donald Trump's Las Vegas hotel, authorities said.

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police and Clark County Fire Department officials told a news conference that a person died inside the futuristic-looking pickup truck and they were working to get the body out. Seven people nearby had minor injuries and several were taken to a hospital.

The fire in the valet area of the Trump International Hotel Las Vegas was reported at 8:40 a.m., a county spokeswoman said in a statement.

According to a law enforcement official, the truck was rented via the Turo app and appeared to have a load of fireworks. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

A Turo spokesperson did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

Law enforcement officials have not ruled out terrorism as a possible motive, a person familiar with the matter said. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss details of the investigation.

“I know you have a lot of questions,” Jeremy Schwartz, acting special agent in charge for the FBI’s Las Vegas office, told reporters. “We don’t have a lot of answers.”

President Joe Biden was briefed on the explosion. The truck explosion came hours after a driver&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-orleans-car-bourbon-street-1685016388d65039ce62e720aab2ba14">rammed a truck into a crowd</a>&nbsp;in New Orleans’ famed French Quarter early on New Year’s Day, killing at least 10 people before being shot to death by police.

“The whole Tesla senior team is investigating this matter right now,” Tesla CEO Elon Musk wrote in a statement on X, adding: "We’ve never seen anything like this.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1735777500419.jpeg" alt="Fire crews on the scene after the explosion on Wednesday.-image Las Vegas Police" />
 <figcaption>Fire crews on the scene after the explosion on Wednesday.-image Las Vegas Police</figcaption>
 </figure>(Click below to watch police video of the explosion)<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FLasVegasMetro%2Fvideos%2F1763169784264920%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=570" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1735777581543.png" alt="Image of the Tesla Truck seconds before the blast-photo Law Vegas Police" />
 <figcaption>Image of the Tesla Truck seconds before the blast-photo Law Vegas Police</figcaption>
 </figure><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Appears likely to be an act of terrorism. Both this Cybertruck and the F-150 suicide bomb in New Orleans were rented from Turo. Perhaps they are linked in some way. <a href="https://t.co/MM6ehJO3SG">https://t.co/MM6ehJO3SG</a>&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1874587141491335237?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">We have now confirmed that the explosion was caused by very large fireworks and/or a bomb carried in the bed of the rented Cybertruck and is unrelated to the vehicle itself. All vehicle telemetry was positive at the time of the explosion. <a href="https://t.co/HRjb87YbaJ">https://t.co/HRjb87YbaJ</a>&mdash; Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1874579547452269054?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">UPDATE ON CYBER TRUCK EXPLOSION Sheriff Kevin McMahill provided an initial briefing regarding the explosion of a Cyber Truck in front of Trump Tower in Las Vegas this morning. Key details: - At approximately 8:40 a.m., reports were received of a vehicle explosion. - One person… <a href="https://t.co/woCvwR1Qvq">https://t.co/woCvwR1Qvq</a> <a href="https://t.co/BLf5jQsRzm">pic.twitter.com/BLf5jQsRzm</a>&mdash; LVMPD (@LVMPD) <a href="https://twitter.com/LVMPD/status/1874572577500516778?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>LAS VEGAS (AP) — Firework mortars and camp fuel canisters were found stuffed into the back of the Tesla Cybertruck that exploded outside President-elect Donald Trump's Las Vegas hotel early Wednesday, killing a suspect inside the vehicle and sparking an intense investigation into possible terrorism.Las Vegas Metropolitan Police and Clark County Fire Department officials said that a person died inside the futuristic-looking pickup truck and seven people nearby suffered minor injuries.By late Wednesday afternoon, authorities were still working to get the body out of the vehicle and start processing the evidence inside. President Joe Biden was briefed on the explosion.“Our number one goal is to ensure that we have the proper identification of the subject involved in this incident,” said Jeremy Schwartz, acting special agent in charge for the FBI’s Las Vegas office, “Following that, our second objective is to determine whether this was an act of terrorism or not.”Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill said authorities know who rented the truck with the Turo app in Colorado, but are not releasing the name until investigators determine if it is the same person who died.McMahill said video captured at Telsa charging stations provided by CEO Elon Musk helped authorities track the vehicle’s journey, arriving in Las Vegas about 7:30 AM. then driving about an hour later into the valet area of the Trump International Hotel, where it sat 15 to 20 seconds before the explosion occurred.Video presented at an afternoon news conference showed a tumble of charred fireworks mortars, cannisters and other explosive devices crowded into the back of the pickup. The truck bed walls were still intact because the blast shot straight up rather than to the sides.Musk said Wednesday afternoon on X that “we have now confirmed that the explosion was caused by very large fireworks and/or a bomb carried in the bed of the rented Cybertruck and is unrelated to the vehicle itself. All vehicle telemetry was positive at the time of the explosion.”In an earlier post on the platform Musk said that his entire senior term was investigating the explosion, adding, “We’ve never seen anything like this.”Musk has recently become a member of Trump's inner circle. Neither Trump nor Musk were in Las Vegas early Wednesday. Both had attended Trump’s New Year’s Eve party at Trump’s estate in South Florida.Musk spent an estimated $250 million during the presidential campaign to support the former president. He was at Trump’s resort on election night and has been a frequent guest there. Trump has named Musk, the world’s richest man, to co-lead a new effort to find ways to cut the government’s size and spending.“This is a Tesla truck, and we know that Elon Musk is working with President-elect Trump, and it’s the Trump Tower,” McMahill said when reporters asked about possible political connections. “So there’s obviously things to be concerned about and it’s something we continue to look at.”The truck explosion came hours after a driver&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-orleans-car-bourbon-street-1685016388d65039ce62e720aab2ba14">rammed a truck into a crowd</a>&nbsp;in New Orleans’ famed French Quarter early on New Year’s Day, killing at least 15 people before being shot to death by police. That crash was being investigated as a terrorist attack and police believe the driver was not acting alone.“We are absolutely investigating any connectivity to what happened in New Orleans as well as other attacks that have been occurring around the world,” McMahill said. “We aren't ruling anything out.”In a statement, Turo said it was working with authorities.“We do not believe that either renter involved in the Las Vegas and New Orleans attacks had a criminal background that would have identified them as a security threat," the statement said.In Las Vegas, witness Ana Bruce, visiting from Brazil, said she heard three explosions.“The first one where we saw the fire, the second one, I guess, was the battery or something like that, and the third was the big one that smoked the entire area and was the moment when everyone was told to evacuate and stay away,” Bruce said.Her travel companion, Alcides Antunes, showed video he took of flames lapping the sides of the silver-colored vehicle.The 64-story hotel is just off the Las Vegas Strip and across the street from the Fashion Show Las Vegas shopping mall.Eric Trump, a son of the president-elect and executive vice president of the Trump Organization,&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/EricTrump/status/1874514306848440399">posted about the fire</a>&nbsp;on the social media platform X. He praised the fire department and local law enforcement “for their swift response and professionalism.”___LAS VEGAS (AP) — One person died and seven others were injured Wednesday when a Tesla Cybertruck that appeared to be carrying fireworks caught fire and exploded outside President-elect Donald Trump's Las Vegas hotel, authorities said.Las Vegas Metropolitan Police and Clark County Fire Department officials told a news conference that a person died inside the futuristic-looking pickup truck and they were working to get the body out. Seven people nearby had minor injuries and several were taken to a hospital.The fire in the valet area of the Trump International Hotel Las Vegas was reported at 8:40 a.m., a county spokeswoman said in a statement.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1735778174814.png" alt="Police found remains of fireworks, gas canisters, lighter fluid and other explosives in the bed of the cybertruck-image Las Vegas Police" />
 <figcaption>Police found remains of fireworks, gas canisters, lighter fluid and other explosives in the bed of the cybertruck-image Las Vegas Police</figcaption>
 </figure>According to a law enforcement official, the truck was rented via the Turo app and appeared to have a load of fireworks. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.A Turo spokesperson did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1735770979279.png" alt="Guests were evacuated from the Trump Las Vegas Hotel after the blast-photo courtesy KLAS " />
 <figcaption>Guests were evacuated from the Trump Las Vegas Hotel after the blast-photo courtesy KLAS </figcaption>
 </figure>Law enforcement officials have not ruled out terrorism as a possible motive, a person familiar with the matter said. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss details of the investigation.“I know you have a lot of questions,” Jeremy Schwartz, acting special agent in charge for the FBI’s Las Vegas office, told reporters. “We don’t have a lot of answers.”President Joe Biden was briefed on the explosion. The truck explosion came hours after a driver&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-orleans-car-bourbon-street-1685016388d65039ce62e720aab2ba14">rammed a truck into a crowd</a>&nbsp;in New Orleans’ famed French Quarter early on New Year’s Day, killing at least 10 people before being shot to death by police.“The whole Tesla senior team is investigating this matter right now,” Tesla CEO Elon Musk wrote in a statement on X, adding: "We’ve never seen anything like this.”In Las Vegas, witness Ana Bruce, visiting from Brazil, said she heard three explosions.“The first one where we saw the fire, the second one, I guess, was the battery or something like that, and the third was the big one that smoked the entire area and was the moment when everyone was told to evacuate and stay away,” Bruce said.Her travel companion, Alcides Antunes, showed video he took of flames lapping the sides of the silver-colored vehicle.The 64-story hotel is just off the Las Vegas Strip and across the street from the Fashion Show Las Vegas shopping mall.<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Earlier today, a reported electric vehicle fire occurred in the porte cochère of Trump Las Vegas. The safety and well-being of our guests and staff remain our top priority. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the Las Vegas Fire Department and local law enforcement for their…&mdash; Eric Trump (@EricTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/EricTrump/status/1874514306848440399?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Eric Trump, a son of the president-elect and executive vice president of the Trump Organization,&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/EricTrump/status/1874514306848440399">posted about the fire</a>&nbsp;on the social media platform X. He praised the fire department and local law enforcement “for their swift response and professionalism.”___

🎥 Police show fatal Tesla explosion outside Trump's Las Vegas hotel

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A driver behind the wheel of a pickup truck rammed into a crowd of New Orleans revelers on Bourbon Street early on New Year’s Day, killing at least 15 people in what the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-orleans-car-bourbon-street-63a1b43d615af365cb8ba6f5f0583eca">FBI is investigating as an act of terrorism</a>.

After the vehicle stopped, the driver emerged from the truck and opened fire on responding officers, New Orleans police said.

The New Orleans coroner now says 15 people were killed when a driver deliberately struck people in the French Quarter early on New Year’s Day.

Authorities previously said 10 had died. The driver was fatally shot by police.

The coroner, Dr. Dwight McKenna, says it will take several days to conduct autopsies. Once those are done and relatives are notified, officials will release the victims' names, McKenna said in a statement.

Sugar Bowl now scheduled for Thursday afternoon

The College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Sugar Bowl between Georgia and Notre Dame will now start at 3 p.m. Thursday.

It was originally set for Wednesday night in New Orleans. But officials said they would postpone it following the truck attack in the city's French Quarter.

Divorce records reveal some information about the New Orleans attacker's finances

Divorce records show that in January 2022, Shamsud-Din Jabbar was $27,000 behind on house payments. He wanted to quickly finalize the divorce.

“I have exhausted all means of bringing the loan current other than a loan modification, leaving us no alternative but to sell the house or allow it to go into foreclosure,” he wrote in an email to his now-ex-wife’s attorney.

His businesses were struggling, too. One, Blue Meadow Properties LLC, lost about $28,000 over the previous year. Two others he started, Jabbar Real Estate Holdings LLC and BDQ L3C, weren’t worth anything.

The divorce was approved in September 2024.

FBI has been warning about an elevated terrorism threat

If confirmed as inspired by the Islamic State, the attack would represent the deadliest such assault on U.S. soil in years. The militant group's flag was on the trailer hitch of the truck involved in the New Orleans attack, according to the FBI.

FBI officials have repeatedly warned about an elevated international terrorism threat due to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel-Hamas war.</a>

In the last year, the FBI has disrupted other potential attacks inspired by the militant group, including in October when agents arrested an Afghan man in Oklahoma accused of plotting an Election Day attack targeting large crowds.

Driver in New Orleans attack had served in the US Army

The driver in the attack in New Orleans previously served in the Army.

A U.S. official said Shamsud-Din Jabbar got out of the Army in 2015 but it was not clear if he went into the Reserve after that. He served as an information technology specialist, the official said. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to provide details that had not yet been made public.

A Baton Rouge father was killed in the New Orleans attack

A 37-year-old father of two from Baton Rouge was among the 10 people killed.

Reggie Hunter had just left work and was headed with a cousin to celebrate New Year’s when the attack happened, his first cousin Shirell Jackson told Nola.com.

Hunter was killed and his cousin was injured, Jackson said.

Officials have not yet released the names of the victims, but their families and friends are talking about them.

Road closed leading to suspect's recent address

Law enforcement officers have closed off a road leading to a Houston residence that records indicate was a recent address of the suspect in the New Orleans attack.

The white mobile home was behind a gate and in a small neighborhood where goats and ducks were roaming the grass.

18-year-old who wanted to be a nurse is among the victims in New Orleans, friend says

A Mississippi man who was celebrating New Year's Eve in New Orleans says his friend who dreamed of becoming a nurse was among the people killed in an attack on Bourbon Street.

Zion Parsons, 18, said a vehicle suddenly appeared and he watched it hit his friend, 18-year-old Nikyra Dedeaux. At least 10 people were killed.

Parsons described the crowd scattering and the gruesome aftermath.

“Bodies, bodies all up and down the street, everybody screaming and hollering” Parsons said.

He said he watched as authorities put a tarp over Dedeaux’s body. He later called Dedeaux’s family to tell them what had happened.

“I hadn’t had time to cry up until I called her mother and she asked me, ‘Where’s my baby’,” Parsons said. “That broke me.”

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2025/1/1735753500592.png" alt="Photo courtesy WDSU TV" />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy WDSU TV</figcaption>
 </figure>NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A driver behind the wheel of a pickup truck rammed into a crowd of New Orleans revelers on Bourbon Street early on New Year’s Day, killing at least 15 people in what the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/article/new-orleans-car-bourbon-street-63a1b43d615af365cb8ba6f5f0583eca">FBI is investigating as an act of terrorism</a>.After the vehicle stopped, the driver emerged from the truck and opened fire on responding officers, New Orleans police said.Here is the latest:<h2>Death toll now stands at 15</h2>The New Orleans coroner now says 15 people were killed when a driver deliberately struck people in the French Quarter early on New Year’s Day.Authorities previously said 10 had died. The driver was fatally shot by police.The coroner, Dr. Dwight McKenna, says it will take several days to conduct autopsies. Once those are done and relatives are notified, officials will release the victims' names, McKenna said in a statement.<h2>Sugar Bowl now scheduled for Thursday afternoon</h2>The College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Sugar Bowl between Georgia and Notre Dame will now start at 3 p.m. Thursday.It was originally set for Wednesday night in New Orleans. But officials said they would postpone it following the truck attack in the city's French Quarter.<h2>Divorce records reveal some information about the New Orleans attacker's finances</h2>Divorce records show that in January 2022, Shamsud-Din Jabbar was $27,000 behind on house payments. He wanted to quickly finalize the divorce.“I have exhausted all means of bringing the loan current other than a loan modification, leaving us no alternative but to sell the house or allow it to go into foreclosure,” he wrote in an email to his now-ex-wife’s attorney.His businesses were struggling, too. One, Blue Meadow Properties LLC, lost about $28,000 over the previous year. Two others he started, Jabbar Real Estate Holdings LLC and BDQ L3C, weren’t worth anything.The divorce was approved in September 2024.<h2>FBI has been warning about an elevated terrorism threat</h2>If confirmed as inspired by the Islamic State, the attack would represent the deadliest such assault on U.S. soil in years. The militant group's flag was on the trailer hitch of the truck involved in the New Orleans attack, according to the FBI.FBI officials have repeatedly warned about an elevated international terrorism threat due to the&nbsp;<a href="https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war">Israel-Hamas war.</a>In the last year, the FBI has disrupted other potential attacks inspired by the militant group, including in October when agents arrested an Afghan man in Oklahoma accused of plotting an Election Day attack targeting large crowds.<h2>Driver in New Orleans attack had served in the US Army</h2>The driver in the attack in New Orleans previously served in the Army.A U.S. official said Shamsud-Din Jabbar got out of the Army in 2015 but it was not clear if he went into the Reserve after that. He served as an information technology specialist, the official said. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity to provide details that had not yet been made public.— By Tara Copp in Washington.<h2>A Baton Rouge father was killed in the New Orleans attack</h2>A 37-year-old father of two from Baton Rouge was among the 10 people killed.Reggie Hunter had just left work and was headed with a cousin to celebrate New Year’s when the attack happened, his first cousin Shirell Jackson told Nola.com.Hunter was killed and his cousin was injured, Jackson said.Officials have not yet released the names of the victims, but their families and friends are talking about them.<h2>Road closed leading to suspect's recent address</h2>Law enforcement officers have closed off a road leading to a Houston residence that records indicate was a recent address of the suspect in the New Orleans attack.The white mobile home was behind a gate and in a small neighborhood where goats and ducks were roaming the grass.<h2>18-year-old who wanted to be a nurse is among the victims in New Orleans, friend says</h2>A Mississippi man who was celebrating New Year's Eve in New Orleans says his friend who dreamed of becoming a nurse was among the people killed in an attack on Bourbon Street.Zion Parsons, 18, said a vehicle suddenly appeared and he watched it hit his friend, 18-year-old Nikyra Dedeaux. At least 10 people were killed.Parsons described the crowd scattering and the gruesome aftermath.“Bodies, bodies all up and down the street, everybody screaming and hollering” Parsons said.He said he watched as authorities put a tarp over Dedeaux’s body. He later called Dedeaux’s family to tell them what had happened.“I hadn’t had time to cry up until I called her mother and she asked me, ‘Where’s my baby’,” Parsons said. “That broke me.”

Coroner: Death toll in New Orleans terror attack continues to rise

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A driver wrought carnage on New Orleans' famed French Quarter early on New Year's Day, killing 10 people as he rammed a pickup truck into a crowd before being shot to death by police, authorities said.

More than 30 people were injured as Wednesday's attack turned festive Bourbon Street into macabre mayhem. The FBI is investigating it as an act of terrorism and said an Islamic State group flag was found in the vehicle.

The FBI identified the driver as Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, a U.S. citizen from Texas.

Investigators were working to determine Jabbar's potential associations and affiliations with terrorist organizations, the FBI said.

Jabbar was killed in a firefight with police following the attack around 3:15 a.m. in an area teeming with New Year’s revelers, the FBI said.

A photo circulated among law enforcement officials showed a bearded Jabbar wearing camouflage next to the truck after he was killed by police.

Investigators recovered a handgun and an AR-style rifle after the shootout, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. The official was not authorized to discuss details of the investigation publicly and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.

The FBI said a potential improvised explosive device was located in the vehicle and other potential explosive devices were also located in the French Quarter.

New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell described the killings as a “terrorist attack.”

New Orleans Police Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick said the driver was “hell-bent on creating the carnage and the damage that he did.”

“It was very intentional behavior. This man was trying to run over as many people as he could,” Kirkpatrick said.

After the vehicle stopped, the driver emerged and opened fire on responding officers, police said. Officers returned fire, killing the driver, police said.

Two officers were wounded and are in stable condition, police said. They were in addition to 33 people injured in the vehicle attack.

“When I got to work this morning, it was kind of pandemonium everywhere," Derick Fleming, chief bellhop at a downtown hotel, told the AP. "There were a couple of bodies on the ground covered up. Police were looking for bombs in garbage cans.”

New Orleans city councilmember Helena Moreno told WWL-TV that after being briefed on the attack, she understands that “there is a potential that other suspects could be involved in this and all hands on deck on determining who these individuals are and finding them."

The area is a prime New Year’s Eve destination.

Tens of thousands of college football fans were in the city for Wednesday night’s Sugar Bowl playoff quarterfinal between Georgia and Notre Dame at the nearby Superdome. The game is expected to be played as scheduled.

University of Georgia President Jere Morehead said a student was critically injured in the attack and is receiving medical treatment.

Zion Parsons told&nbsp;<a href="http://nola.com/">NOLA.com</a>&nbsp;that he and two friends were leaving a Bourbon Street restaurant when he heard a “commotion” and “banging” and turned his head to see a vehicle “barreling” onto the pavement toward them. He dodged the vehicle, but it struck one of his friends.

“I yell her name, and I turn my head, and her leg is twisted and contorted above and around her back. And there was just blood,” Parsons said. The 18-year-old said he ran after hearing gunshots shortly thereafter.

“As you’re walking down the street, you can just look and see bodies, just bodies of people, just bleeding, broken bones,” he said. “I just ran until I couldn’t hear nothing no more.”

Bourbon Street has had barriers to prevent vehicle attacks since 2017, but Wednesday’s rampage happened amid a major project to remove and replace the devices, which left the area vulnerable.

Work began in November and was expected to be largely wrapped up in time for the Super Bowl, which is being played in the city on Feb. 9.

Elsewhere though, life went on as normal in the city known to some for a motto that translates to “let the good times roll.”

Near Bourbon and Canal streets, close to where the truck came to rest, some people were talking about the attack while others dressed in Georgia gear talked football. At a cafe a block away from the crime scene, people crowded in for breakfast as upbeat pop music played. Two blocks away, people stood around drinking beer at a bar, seemingly as if nothing happened.

"We recognize that there are tourists around us, and we urge all to avoid the French Quarter as this is an active investigation," Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry said. “We understand the concerns of the community and want to reassure everyone that the safety of the French Quarter and the city of New Orleans remains our top priority.”

President Joe Biden, speaking to reporters in Delaware, said he felt “anger and frustration” over the attack but would refrain from further comment until more is known.

“My heart goes out to the victims and their families who were simply trying to celebrate the holiday,” Biden said in a statement. “There is no justification for violence of any kind, and we will not tolerate any attack on any of our nation’s communities.”

The attack is the latest example of a vehicle being used as a weapon to carry out mass violence, a trend that has alarmed law enforcement officials and that can be difficult to protect against.

<a href="https://apnews.com/article/germany-magdeburg-christmas-market-attack-9ae2b2ca5cea3cef79fe502ab3f27b63">A 50-year-old Saudi doctor</a>&nbsp;plowed into a Christmas market teeming with holiday shoppers in the German city of Magdeburg last month, killing four women and a 9-year-old boy.