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Matthew Livelsberger, a Green Beret and the main suspect in the Cybertruck attack in Las Vegas, reportedly sent a manifesto-like email to retired U.S. Army intelligence officer Sam Shoemate just days before a car bomb exploded in front of Trump International Hotel.

Shoemate revealed the email on The Shawn Ryan Show podcast, describing its contents as allegations of advanced drone technology, a cover-up of a 2019 airstrike in Afghanistan, and claims of being under U.S. government surveillance.

Newsweek reached out to The Shawn Ryan Show for comment on Friday via email.

Why It Matters

Firework mortars and camp fuel canisters were found inside the Tesla Cybertruck that exploded outside President-elect Donald Trump's Las Vegas hotel early Wednesday. The blast resulted in a single casualty, the suspect inside the vehicle, and sparked a thorough investigation into potential terrorism.

Sheriff Kevin McMahill described the body in the Cybertruck as "almost beyond recognition." On Thursday, authorities identified the victim as Matthew Livelsberger, a 37-year-old U.S. Army veteran, who reportedly shot himself in the head moments before the explosion.

While investigators are still determining Livelsberger's motives for detonating the explosives outside the hotel, his alleged manifesto has provided some clues. In the document, Livelsberger raised questions about national security and U.S. military transparency, offering potential insight into his actions. Tesla Car Bomb Las Vegas Matthew Livelsberger, a Green Beret and the main suspect in the Cybertruck attack in Las Vegas, reportedly sent a manifesto-like email to retired U.S. Army intelligence officer Sam Shoemate just days before a car bomb... Associated Press What To Know

Livelsberger allegedly sent an email to retired U.S. Army intelligence officer Sam Shoemate, detailing concerns about advanced drones using "GDIC propulsion systems," which he described as anti-gravity technology.

In the email, read on "The Shawn Ryan Podcast," Livelsberger claimed that the U.S. and China developed and deployed the drones. He alleged that China launched them from submarines along the U.S. East Coast, calling them "the most dangerous threat to national security" because of their stealth, ability to evade detection and unlimited payload capacity.

Livelsberger also referenced his involvement in a 2019 U.S. airstrike in Nimruz Province, Afghanistan. He claimed the operation, which targeted drug facilities, caused civilian casualties, including women and children, and was covered up by U.S. authorities. The allegations align with a 2019 U.N. report criticizing the strikes as unlawful. Livelsberger said the incident pushed him to speak out.

Additionally, he accused the FBI and Homeland Security of monitoring and tracking him, describing efforts to avoid being detained.

The only person who died as a result of the incident was the suspect, from a self-inflicted gunshot, according to police. Is Manifesto Real?

After the alleged manifesto began circulating on social media following the podcast, reporters asked Las Vegas police and the FBI at a press conference if the suspect had written it. Authorities said they believe the letter shared by Shawn Ryan was authored by the bombing suspect. What Does Manifesto Say?

Shoemate said Friday that he received an email from Livelsberger on Tuesday. According to Shoemate, the email said:

"In case I do not make it to my decision point or on to the Mexico border I am sending this now. Please do not release this until 1JAN and keep my identity private until then.

"First off I am not under duress or hostile influence or control. My first car was a 2006 Black Ford Mustang V6 for verification.

"What we have been seeing with "drones" is the operational use of gravitic propulsion systems powered aircraft by most recently China in the east coast, but throughout history, the US. Only we and China have this capability. Our OPEN location for this activity in the box is below.

"China has been launching them from the Atlantic from submarines for years, but this activity recently has picked up. As of now, it is just a show of force and they are using it similar to how they used the balloon for sigint and isr, which are also part of the integrated coms system. There are dozens of those balloons in the air at any given time.

"The so what is because of the speed and stealth of these unmanned AC, they are the most dangerous threat to national security that has ever existed. They basically have an unlimited payload capacity and can park it over the WH if they wanted. It's checkmate.

"USG needs to give the history of this, how we are employing it and weaponizing it, how China is employing them and what the way forward is. China is poised to attack anywhere in the east coast

"I've been followed for over a week now from likely homeland or FBI, and they are looking to move on me and are unlikely going to let me cross into Mexico, but won't because they know I am armed and I have a massive VBIED. I've been trying to maintain a very visible profile and have kept my phone and they are definitely digitally tracking me.

"I have knowledge of this program and also war crimes that were covered up during airstrikes in Nimruz province Afghanistan in 2019 by the admin, DoD, DEA and CIA. I conducted targeting for these strikes of over 125 buildings (65 were struck because of CIVCAS) that killed hundreds of civilians in a single day. USFORA continued strikes after spotting civilians on initial ISR, it was supposed to take 6 minutes and scramble all aircraft in CENTCOM. The UN basically called these war crimes, but the administration made them disappear. I was part of that cover-up with USFORA and Agent [Redacted] of the DEA. So I don't know if my abduction attempt is related to either. I worked with GEN Millers 10 staff on this as well as the response to Bala Murghab. AOB-S Commander at the time. [Redacted] can validate this.

"You need to elevate this to the media so we avoid a world war because this is a mutually assured destruction situation.

"For vetting my Linkedin is Matt Berg or Matthew Livelsberger, an active duty 18Z out of 1-10 my profile is public. I have an active TSSCI with UAP USAP access."

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[-] Blade9732@lemmy.world 33 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Please remember to check the source. I believe Shoemate has been known to falsify emails in the past. Also, if you check out the screenshot he shared on the podcast, the email has spell check cues highlighted. This means it is in edit mode, not a capture of a real email. As someone else posted, the writing style and subject does not seem to match his previous known writing. There may be good explanations for these discrepancies, but I do not trust most of the reporting to actually dig into sources before posting online to get clicks.

[-] RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world 5 points 2 days ago

Good to know. I am not familiar with the source. Upvoted for visibility.

[-] Blade9732@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago

Thanks, it is not your fault. As I said, it may be legit, but I just feel like everyone wants to be first to report something before fact checking. This incident is very strange, and the suspect seems to be all over the map. There was an article yesterday that reported on his very recent communications with his ex girlfriend. Matthew was currently engaged (previous marriage and divorce) and had a young child. Strange that he is communicating with his ex( not his previous wife), the day before he shoots himself. There are other writings that Vegas police have shared that seem to contradict the incident, so we may never know what actually was going on with him.

[-] TransplantedSconie@lemm.ee 26 points 2 days ago

Dude says war crimes were committed in "2019 by this administration" 🤣🤣

Dumb ass didn't realize who was the fucking president in 2019. This has shades of "Why didn't Obama do anything to stop 9/11!"

QANON dipshits and bots are probably on Twitter right now spreading this shit.

[-] SnotFlickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zone 16 points 2 days ago

It's also very much like how during the Civil Rights era, it was deeply unpopular with whites, but they've spent the better part of 60 years rewriting history and saying they actually always supported it.

They did the same thing with the Iraq War, supported it unequivocally to the point where they were saying "if you're not with us you're against us" implying you're a "terrorist sympathizer" for being against the war. Now, all these same stupid schmucks say they were always against it.

They'll say they always hated Trump, too, after he finishes flushing the country down the toilet.

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 15 points 2 days ago

Oh good, a whole new lunacy for QAnon to latch on to.

[-] some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org 7 points 2 days ago

One of the aspects of the incoming admin that concerns me yet no one is talking about it.

They're emboldened, they feel untouchable, and they're fucking crazy.

Pretty soon any one of us could be Michael Reinoehl'd for any reason.

[-] jordanlund@lemmy.world 9 points 2 days ago

This doesn't seem in line with the other writings that have been released so far:

https://www.denverpost.com/2025/01/03/cybertruck-explosion-update-matthew-livelsberger-colorado-las-vegas/

I guess it's possible that there's multiple manifestos, but this one is much more technically oriented and paranoid than the others.

[-] RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world 7 points 2 days ago

My impression is that they’ve taken a big liberty with the term “manifesto”. In other words, it’s not a manifesto.

It’s just one email of likely many he sent that are being revealed.

So the Denver Post article you’ve cited is probably the same…just another email.

[-] Kit@lemmy.blahaj.zone 9 points 2 days ago

That was a hell of a read. Can someone who knows military terms explain more about the drones?

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 18 points 2 days ago

I can explain: this person was a lunatic who believed in science fiction nonsense.

[-] Ioughttamow@fedia.io 3 points 2 days ago

Propellers go whir, you can’t explain that

[-] DrFistington@lemmy.world 7 points 1 day ago

Yes. Schizophrenia, becomes pronounced around the early 30s and gets worse. Can be worsened by a TBI, PTSD, etc.

Also I feel like we're getting whitewashed reports in general of this incident.

[-] paraphrand@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

What we have been seeing with "drones" is the operational use of gravitic propulsion systems powered aircraft by most recently China in the east coast, but throughout history, the US. Only we and China have this capability. Our OPEN location for this activity in the box is below.

"China has been launching them from the Atlantic from submarines for years, but this activity recently has picked up. As of now, it is just a show of force and they are using it similar to how they used the balloon for sigint and isr, which are also part of the integrated coms system. There are dozens of those balloons in the air at any given time.

"The so what is because of the speed and stealth of these unmanned AC, they are the most dangerous threat to national security that has ever existed. They basically have an unlimited payload capacity and can park it over the WH if they wanted. It's checkmate.

The UFO “community” is going nuts over this.

They want their disclosure. And they can’t decide if this is intended to make them look like fools, or if it means they are getting disclosure soon.

If you’re confused, it’s because you don’t realize the gravitic propulsion is from recovered NHI (non human intelligence) vehicles that crashed. As the story goes.

The fact this is covered in NewsWeek is probally making them really excited.

[-] homesweethomeMrL@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago

Newsweek.

Chose to quote: FBI spokesdroid, the guy’s girlfriend, and Elmo Shmush.

What a choice.

[-] Kolanaki@yiffit.net 3 points 1 day ago

What we have been seeing with "drones" is the operational use of gravitic propulsion systems powered aircraft...

And this is how I know this guy was nuts.

[-] thesohoriots@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago

Bro really left a note saying “the clock’s run out, time’s up, over, blaow / snap back to reality, ope, there goes gravity”

this post was submitted on 04 Jan 2025
49 points (85.5% liked)

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