Incident at Nevada Power Facility
A man from New York drove a rental vehicle through a secured gate at a power facility in Nevada and subsequently took his own life, authorities reported on Thursday.
The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) held a press conference on Friday with Boulder Police Chief Timothy Shea and FBI Special Agent Christopher Delzotto to discuss this ongoing terrorism investigation. Around 10 a.m., officers responded to a 911 call and found a silver Nissan Sentra that had crashed through the fence of a Department of Water and Power substation near Boulder City. The car ended up against a large industrial wire reel in a restricted area, and the driver died from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The suspect has been identified as 23-year-old Dawson Maroney from Albany. He was found in soft body armor and was in possession of a shotgun. Before the incident, Maroney reportedly contacted his mother, referring to himself as the “son of a dead terrorist” and expressing a sense of obligation to carry out the act.
Reports indicate that the weapons found in Maroney’s car included two shotguns, an AR-style pistol, a loaded magazine, a flamethrower filled with thermite, a crowbar, and a hatchet. Investigators searching his hotel room discovered components for explosives, such as ammonium nitrate, magnesium ribbon, metal pipes, and gasoline.
According to Sherif Kevin McMahill, these discoveries heighten the seriousness of the situation. Maroney rented the vehicle on February 12 and left Albany two days later, as noted by FBI Director Delzotto. They tracked his movements using automated license plate reading technology. Sources indicated that Maroney likely traveled west with the intention to create chaos.
Authorities executed two search warrants at an Albany residence, recovering firearm parts and a 3D printer. Additionally, books covering various extremist ideologies—including white supremacism, anti-government sentiments, and both right-wing and leftist materials—were found in the hotel room.
The facility targeted transmits power from Hoover Dam to the Los Angeles Basin, but Boulder Police Chief Shea confirmed there was no significant infrastructure damage or service interruptions due to the breach.
Albany Law School acknowledged that Maroney was a student set to graduate in 2027, expressing heartbreak over the incident. “We are deeply saddened to learn of Mr. Dawson Maroney’s tragic passing,” spokesperson Tom Torello stated.
Officials reiterated that there is currently no ongoing threat to the public.
