A heavily armed 23-year-old man who told his family he wanted to do something that would put him “on the news” is now at the center of what authorities are calling a suspected act of terrorism in Nevada. Dawson Maloney allegedly drove across the country and intentionally crashed a rental car into a secure power facility near Boulder City before taking his own life.
According to Kevin McMahill of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Maloney was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, wearing soft body armor and holding a shotgun. Authorities said there is no ongoing threat to the public.
Officials explained that Maloney, who had recently been reported missing from New York, deliberately rammed a rental car with New York plates through a secured gate protecting a Los Angeles Department of Water and Power facility that works closely with Hoover Dam. Video footage showed the vehicle speeding toward the gate and breaking through the perimeter fence before being stopped by large industrial wire reels.
Before the incident, Maloney reportedly contacted family members and made repeated references to self-harm and committing an act that would land him “on the news.” In a message to his mother, he referred to himself as a “dead terrorist son” and said he felt obligated to carry out the act.
Inside the car, authorities discovered two shotguns, an AR-style pistol, numerous loaded magazines, a box of shotgun shells, two flamethrowers containing thermite material, and tools including a crowbar and hatchet. Explosive materials such as thermite, ammonium nitrate, magnesium ribbon, metal pipes, and gasoline were also recovered, leading officials to classify the incident as terrorism-related.
Investigators found books in Maloney’s hotel room tied to multiple extremist ideologies, ranging from right- and left-wing extremism to environmental extremism, white supremacy, and anti-government movements. A cellphone found in the car is now undergoing forensic analysis.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation in Las Vegas and Albany is assisting with the investigation and executed search warrants in New York. Electronics were seized from one Albany home, while gun components and a 3D printer were recovered from another. Agents believe Maloney rented the car in Albany on February 12 and left the area two days later.
While the motive continues to be investigated, authorities acted quickly and prevented any damage to critical infrastructure. Thanks to law enforcement vigilance, a potentially catastrophic attack was stopped before it could go any further—proof once again that strong security and decisive action keep Americans safe.
