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The soldier, Matthew Livelsberger, was found dead in the debris of the New Year's Eve explosion outside a Trump hotel.
Authorities in the United States are investigating Cybertruck explosion outside a Trump-branded hotel in Las Vegas released new details about the motivation behind the blast.
On Friday, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigators indicated that the soldier behind the explosion appeared to be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD.
“Although this incident is more public and more sensationalized than usual, at the end of the day it appears to be a tragic case of suicide involving a highly decorated military veteran who was struggling with PTSD and other issues,” explained Spencer Evans, FBI Special Agent in Charge at a news conference.
The FBI added that there was no evidence the soldier, 37-year-old Matthew Livelsbergergenerated hostility against President-elect Donald Trump, despite the apparent location and details of the explosion.
Cybertrucks are manufactured by Tesla, the electric vehicle company founded by Trump supporter Elon Musk.
The medical examiner's report indicates that Livelsberger died by suicide shortly before the explosion. His body was found in the charred remains of the Cybertruck, and a gun was found at his feet.
The blast sparked widespread speculation on New Year's Day as the US grappled with a suspected “terrorist attack” in the city of New Orleans that killed 14 victims.
Seven people suffered minor injuries when the rented Cybertruck exploded in the parking lot just outside the glass doors of the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas that same day.
A man, later identified as Livelsberger, was also found dead at the scene. The car was full of fireworks and fuel canisters.
Friday's news conference coincided with the release of excerpts from a note left by Livelsberger explaining his motivation for the blast.
In the note, Leavelsperger — an Army Green Beret who served in Afghanistan and elsewhere — described feeling the need to “clear my mind” of “the weight of the life I've taken.”
“This was not a terrorist attack, it was a wake-up call,” Livelsperger wrote. “Americans only pay attention to spectacle and violence. What better way to make my point than with a stunt of fireworks and explosives.
Originally from Colorado Springs, Colo., Leavelsperger has served in the military in various roles since 2006. since then and has received five bronze stars for his achievements.
He was on approved leave when he took his own life.
The suspect in the New Orleans attack, Shamsud-Din Jabbarwas also a military veteran. He deliberately drove a rented Ford pickup truck into a New Year's Eve crowd on Bourbon Street before dying in a shootout with police.
No connection has been found between the two incidents, although investigators said they are looking into every possible lead.
On Friday, a former friend of Leavelsperger's, nurse Alicia Arith, told The Washington Post that the Green Beret suffered from deep guilt over his experiences in combat.
She suspects his symptoms, which include memory fog, may be the result of a head injury or physical trauma.
“He wanted to get more help,” Arith told the Post in his interview. “I think it was even harder for him while he was on active duty — the shame and the stigma.”
A neighbor, Cindy Helwig, told The Associated Press that she remembers Leavelsperger recently coming to her for a tool to fix his SUV.
“He was a normal guy,” she said.
