My preliminary assessment of information about the Las Vegas bombing suspect

This doesn’t make much sense. More questions than answers.

The now deceased suspect in the bombing of the Las Vegas Trump Hotel has been identified as Matthew Livelsberger, who is described as “an Army veteran.” I have a little more insight based upon the LinkedIn profile of Matthew Livelsberger, who appears to be the same person. That LinkedIn profile is here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-livelsberger-514ab383?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

The thing that is most surprising – and shocking – to me is that Livelsberger is a U.S. Army Special Forces veteran. All, although it is not completely clear, his LinkedIn profile indicates that he was still an active-duty SF soldier at the time of his death. This is consistent with a just-published Wall Street Journal article. Note that he would have been eligible to retire from the army in less than a year, if this profile is accurate.

A summary of Livelsberger’s military career

Except where I have noted otherwise, all of this is taken from my analysis of Livelsberger’s LinkedIn profile. I have not yet had a chance to speak with anyone who knew him.

Although it is not completely clear from his LinkedIn resume, it appears that Livelsberger joined the Army in 2005. Based upon a 2005 enlistment, this would indicate that he enlisted under what is called the 18X option, where a new soldier can enlist in the Army with an option to try out for Special Forces selection and training. If they successfully pass the rigorous selection process as well as the extensive training program, they will officially become a “Green Beret.” After completion of training, they typically will be assigned to an ODA or “Operational Detachment A” (typically referred to as an A Team). There they normally will be assigned an operational job consistent with their training in one of four specialty areas: as a specialist in communications, weapons, or engineering and demolitions, or as a medic.

Although the timeline is not completely clear, Livelsberger states that he was a Special Forces “Communication Specialist” from January 2006, until February 2015. After almost ten years as a communication specialist, he was elevated to the more senior position of an 18 F, “Intelligence and Operations Specialist,” a position that he held for more than seven years. Then, in 2023 he was elevated once again to become an 18 Z, Team Sergeant.

Becoming a Team Sergeant on a Special Forces ODA often is the pinnacle of an NCO’s military career. Team sergeants are selected for their leadership ability and demonstrated expertise in Special Forces unconventional warfare.

After serving as a team sergeant for just under two years that Livelsberger took his last position this past November as a “Remote and Autonomous Systems Manager.”

Although it is not listed on his LinkedIn resume, Livelsberger appears to have been assigned to 10th Special Forces Group (my old unit), which currently is based in Fort Carson, Colorado. I inferred this from certain portions of his résumé, and it was confirmed to me by personnel in SF. 10th SFG’s primary area of responsibility is Europe, although it did deploy teams to Iraq and Afghanistan during the fighting there. This is consistent with news reports that Livelsberger currently is from Colorado, and that the Tesla truck was rented in Colorado. During his service Livelsberger apparently was previously stationed in Dushanbe, which is the capital of Tajikistan. That is consistent with his assignment to 10th SFG and its European focus. And the WSJ’s recent article reports that “U.S. defence officials “confirmed that he also served in Afghanistan and the Congo.”

One of the things that jumped out at me was what was not on Livelsberger’s resume under “Honors and Awards.” The only thing that he mentioned was a “Department of State Meritorious Honor Award.” The lack of any mention of a combat infantryman’s badge or of any combat awards for valor or even meritorious achievement are unusual for a senior SF NCO. The omission can be explained by his assignment to 10th Group with a focus on Europe, and without an opportunity to deploy directly into a combat zone.¹

One of the things that is most puzzling to me given Livelsberger’s extensive SF training and experience, is the apparent lack of sophistication of the bomb in the back of his rented truck. From all reports and photographs, it appears to be a collection gasoline cans, and large fireworks. And, of course, they apparently detonated prematurely while he was still in the cab of the truck.² A man with his extensive SF training should have been fully able to prepare, rig and detonate a device that would not resemble something assembled by a couple of novices after minimal internet research. Puzzling. Very puzzling.

Another initial impression from Livelsberger’s LinkedIn resume is the absence of any indication that he has become radicalized to the point where he would seek to bomb the Trump Hotel or any other target in the U.S. It contains nothing that would indicate that he would even be susceptible to an approach by radical Islamists, for example. It appears to be a typical resume of a career soldier. We shall learn more in the days to come, but his resume gives no hints.

To me the most worrisome question is how in the heck did this career Special Forces soldier become such a fanatic as to do what he apparently has done. To me, soldiers from the Special Operations community are the epitome of patriotism and service to the nation. Unfortunately, in recent years we have experienced rogue agents from the FBI and CIA. As reprehensible as that is, to me this inexplicable incident is quantum leap beyond those failures. How was Livelsberger recruited? This did not happen in a vacuum. Others had to be involved. Who?

More information will no doubt come out in the coming days, but, unfortunately, the investigators in charge of this affair have to dig deep to try to figure out why this happened, why, and how an apparently stable and professional Special Forces NCO became involved in such a thing. They must ask, ‘What is the extent of the penetration?’.

1. After I posted this initial assessment, news reports indicated that Livelsberger had been awarded a Bronze Star for valor. I have seen no details and cannot confirm that.

2. Subsequent reports indicate that Livelsberger shot himself before the jury-rigged bomb exploded.