LAS VEGAS, NEVADA – Las Vegas area police have opened a terrorism-related investigation after a man crashed his car into a power substation in Boulder City on Thursday morning.

Sheriff Kevin McMahill of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department stated in a Friday press conference that there is no ongoing threat to the community.

Suspect Dies at the Scene

According to police, a 911 call was received around 10 AM on Thursday, reporting that a vehicle had crashed through the security gate of the power station in Boulder City, located about 40 km southeast of Las Vegas.

The driver was identified as Dawson Maloney, 23, of Albany, New York, who had previously been reported missing by his family. Police stated that Maloney died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Before the incident, the suspect had sent messages to his family, mentioning intentions to harm himself and stating that he would commit an act that would put his name in the news. In a message to his mother, he referred to himself as a "terrorist," according to police.

Explosive Materials and Extremist Literature Found

Officials found explosive materials along with several books related to extremist ideologies in the suspect's hotel room. The documents covered right-wing, left-wing, environmental, white supremacist, and anti-government extremism.

Inside Maloney's rental car, police recovered two shotguns, an assault-style pistol, a flamethrower, and soft body armor. At his residence in Albany, authorities found a 3D printer and numerous parts used to assemble firearms.

Maloney was enrolled as a 2027 student at Albany Law School and had previously achieved high academic standing at Siena University.

Power Infrastructure Undisrupted

The substation that was struck is owned by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, which cooperatively operates and transmits power from the Hoover Dam to the Los Angeles area.

The agency confirmed no operational disruptions. Boulder City Police Chief Timothy Shea stated that no significant damage to critical infrastructure was recorded.

Boulder City is a historic town, home to the Hoover Dam — a structure that supplies water to millions and generates an average of about 4 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually for Nevada, Arizona, and California.

National Power Grid Security Context

The incident occurs amidst a series of attacks on power stations in states such as Washington, Oregon, and North Carolina, leading federal officials to repeatedly express concerns about national power grid security.

Tom Torello, Director of Communications for Albany Law School, expressed condolences regarding the student's death in a statement to the press.

The investigation is ongoing.