Las Vegas police have launched a terrorism investigation after a vehicle deliberately rammed into a power substation, an incident described as a "terrorism-related event" by authorities. The attack occurred on Thursday, with no ongoing threat to the public confirmed by Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill during a news conference on Friday.
Details of the Incident
Police responded to a 911 call at 10 a.m. on Thursday reporting a crash through a secured gate at a substation in Boulder City, located approximately 25 miles southeast of Las Vegas. The driver, identified as 23-year-old Dawson Maloney from Albany, New York, was reported missing and later found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Evidence of Extremism
Authorities discovered explosive materials and multiple books related to extremist ideologies in Maloney's hotel room. These included texts on right- and left-wing extremism, environmental extremism, white supremacism, and anti-government ideology. Sheriff McMahill stated that these findings significantly elevate the seriousness of the incident.
Weapons and Background
In Maloney's rental car, police found two shotguns, an assault rifle-style pistol, and flame throwers. He was wearing soft-body armor at the time of the crash. Additionally, a 3D printer and several gun components were recovered from an Albany residence. Maloney was a student at Albany Law School, class of 2027, and had been an honors student at Siena University in New York.
Infrastructure and Response
The targeted power substation is owned by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and works closely with the Hoover Dam, which provides water and hydroelectric power to Nevada, Arizona, and California. Boulder City Police Chief Timothy Shea confirmed no evidence of major damage to critical infrastructure and no service disruptions. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power also stated there were no impacts to its operations.
Historical Context
This incident follows a similar attack in 2023 when a man rammed a car into a solar power facility near Las Vegas, setting it on fire. That attack, along with others in states like Washington, Oregon, and North Carolina, has raised federal concerns about the security of the nation's electricity transmission network.
Community Reaction
Albany Law School expressed heartbreak over Maloney's passing in a statement from Tom Torello, director of communications and marketing. The FBI's Las Vegas special agent-in-charge, Christopher Delzano, noted that Maloney had driven a rental car from Albany to Boulder City, and police revealed he had communicated with family before the crash, referencing self-harm and an intent to commit an act that would place him on the news, including referring to himself as a terrorist in a message to his mother.
