Two military veterans linked to New Year’s Day terrorist incidents have been revealed to have experienced significant family challenges in the days leading up to their actions.
Matthew Livelsberger, the active-duty Green Beret who detonated a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, was reportedly facing marital difficulties shortly before the attack.
His wife suspected him of infidelity, and the couple argued after she leveled those accusations. Livelsberger, who had a young daughter with his wife, left his home in Colorado Springs shortly after Christmas.
Less than a week later, on New Year’s Day, the Trump-loving soldier carried out the explosion that injured seven people.
Law enforcement sources revealed that in the days leading up to the incident, Livelsberger had also reconnected with ex-girlfriends, including one who recounted their conversations about his excitement over renting the Cybertruck.
One of Livelsberger’s ex-girlfriends, Alicia Arritt, shared with authorities that his behavior had changed significantly after he returned from a Middle Eastern tour in 2019, where he sustained a traumatic brain injury.
Despite recognizing the need for mental health support, Livelsberger did not seek treatment, a situation that Arritt believed may have contributed to his actions.
His uncle, Dean Livelsberger, described Matthew as a patriotic soldier who had a deep love for his country and support for Republican President Donald Trump.
The FBI is continuing to investigate the incident but said there is no definitive link to the simultaneous attack in New Orleans, although Livelsberger and Shamsud-Din Jabbar both began serving in the U.S. Army in the 2000s, just over one year apart.
Las Vegas Sheriff Kevin McMahill said both were stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. He also confirmed that both served in Afghanistan in 2009.
“We don’t have any evidence that they were in the same province, the same location, or the same unit, again something else that remains under investigation,” McMahill said.
A U.S. Army spokesperson said Livelsberger, a master sergeant, served in the active duty Army Special Forces from January 2006 to March 2011.
Jabbar served as an Army human resources specialist and IT specialist from March 2007 to January 2015.
Livelsberger enlisted in the National Guard and the Reserve from March 2011 to December 2012, when he returned to active duty as a special operations soldier.
Meanwhile, in New Orleans, Jabbar was responsible for a separate terror attack on the same day.
Jabbar, who had financial and personal troubles—including a contentious divorce—drove a truck into a crowd while firing shots and later engaged in a standoff with law enforcement, resulting in his death.
His mental state had reportedly deteriorated following his involvement with ISIS and personal hardships.
Like Livelsberger, Jabbar had experienced significant family issues, which may have contributed to his actions, although investigators are still working to understand the full extent of his motives.
The tragic incidents have sparked renewed discussions about the personal struggles faced by military veterans, particularly those dealing with mental health issues, family conflicts, and the lasting impact of combat experiences.
As investigations continue, both cases highlight the complex and often hidden challenges veterans may face, which can sometimes culminate in extreme and violent actions.