On Feb. 19, 23-year-old Dawson Maloney of Albany, N.Y., drove a rental car through the gate of a Nevada power substation and was found dead inside from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Authorities recovered multiple firearms, magazines and two thermite-based incendiary devices in the vehicle. Investigators found books tied to white supremacy and anti-government ideology in Maloney's hotel room; the incident was treated as terrorism-related out of caution. The FBI is assisting, and officials say there is no ongoing public threat.
23-Year-Old Crashes Explosive-Laden Rental Car Into Nevada Power Substation After Saying He'd Be 'On The News'
Dawson Maloney, power substation in Nevada that he crashed intoLas Vegas Metropolitan Police Department/Facebook
Authorities say a 23-year-old man from Albany, N.Y., drove a rental car packed with weapons and incendiary devices through the gate of a Nevada Department of Water and Power substation on Feb. 19, then died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound inside the vehicle.
Incident Overview
At about 10:00 a.m. local time on Thursday, Feb. 19, the Boulder City Police Department (BCPD) received a 911 call reporting that a vehicle had driven through a secured gate at a Department of Water and Power substation and that gunshots were heard from inside the car. Responding officers located a deceased adult male in a silver Nissan Sentra wearing soft body armor.
Car driven by Dawson MaloneyLas Vegas Metropolitan Police Department/Facebook
Victim And Evidence
The man was identified as Dawson Maloney, 23, of Albany, N.Y. Investigators determined he died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Searchers recovered multiple firearms and explosive materials from the vehicle, including two additional shotguns, an AR-style pistol, loaded magazines, ammunition and two thermite-based incendiary devices.
Background And Motive
License-plate reader data confirmed Maloney had driven from New York to Nevada in a rental car; authorities said he had recently been reported missing from New York. Family members told investigators Maloney had said he intended to carry out an act that would get him "on the news," and he reportedly sent his mother a message referring to himself as her "dead terrorist son."
Vehicle driven by Dawson MaloneyLas Vegas Metropolitan Police Department/Facebook
"Out of an abundance of caution, the incident was treated as terrorism-related due to the location and materials discovered," the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) said, adding there was "no ongoing threat to the public at this time."
Investigation
Officers who searched the hotel room where Maloney had been staying found books investigators described as related to extremist ideologies, including material tied to white supremacy and anti-government beliefs. The FBI is assisting local authorities in the investigation. At the time of reporting, authorities said there was no continuing threat to the public and that investigators were working to determine motive and the full circumstances of the trip, the weapons and the incendiary devices.
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