Driver Dies After Breaching Power Substation Gate; Incident Investigated as Potential Terrorism

A driver died after his vehicle breached the gate of a power substation in Boulder City, Nevada, on Thursday. Authorities, led by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, are investigating the incident as potentially terrorism-related.

Incident Details

The driver, identified as 23-year-old Dawson Maloney of Albany, New York, was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The incident occurred at approximately 10 a.m. at a Los Angeles Department of Water and Power facility.

A 911 call reported a vehicle crash through a secured gate, with the driver appearing dead and gunshots heard.

Surveillance video captured the vehicle driving through the gate into the power infrastructure area. No significant damage to the facility or service disruptions were reported.

Evidence and Investigation

Evidence recovered directly from Maloney included multiple books on various extremist ideologies, such as right-wing, left-wing, environmental, white supremacy, and anti-government beliefs. Explosive materials and components were also found on him.

A subsequent search of Maloney's rental car, which he drove from Albany to Boulder City, uncovered a significant cache of items:

• Two shotguns
• An AR-style pistol
• Numerous loaded AR magazines and shotgun shells
• Two flamethrower devices containing thermite material
• A crowbar and a hatchet
• A cellphone, which is currently undergoing forensic analysis

Evidence recovered from Maloney included multiple books on various extremist ideologies, such as right-wing, left-wing, environmental, white supremacy, and anti-government beliefs, alongside explosive materials and components.

Further investigation led to two search warrants in Albany, New York, which yielded additional electronics, firearm components, and a 3D printer. The FBI is assisting the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department in the ongoing investigation.

Driver's Background and Communications

Maloney, a law student, had recently been reported missing from New York. Prior to the incident, he communicated with family members, making statements about self-harm and suggesting he intended an act that would bring him media attention.

He also messaged his mother, referring to himself as a "dead terrorist son" and indicating an obligation to carry out the attack.