Nevada Power Facility Rammed: Man Identified, Investigation Ongoing
Boulder City, Nevada – A 23-year-old man from Albany, New York, died by a self-inflicted gunshot wound after ramming a vehicle through the gate of a power substation outside Boulder City on Thursday, authorities announced Friday. The incident is being investigated as a potential act of terrorism, according to Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill.
Dawson Noah Maloney, identified by law enforcement as the suspect, reportedly drove across the country in a rental vehicle, arriving in the Boulder City area on February 14, according to FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Delzotto. Investigators traced his route using license plate reader data. He had rented the vehicle on February 12.
The incident unfolded after a 911 call reported a vehicle breaching the security gate at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power substation at approximately 10 a.m. Local time. Responding officers found Maloney deceased inside the vehicle, which had come to a stop after colliding with large industrial wire reels, McMahill said at a press conference. Videos of the incident were shown, depicting the vehicle approaching and then crashing through the gate [FOX5 Vegas].
Prior to the attack, Maloney had communicated with family members, expressing intentions of self-harm and stating his desire to commit an act that would garner media attention. In a message to his mother, he referred to himself as a “dead terrorist son” and claimed a sense of obligation to carry out the act, McMahill stated. Maloney had also been reported missing from Albany, New York.
A search of Maloney’s hotel room revealed a cache of materials that heightened concerns about the incident’s intent. Investigators discovered firearms, including two shotguns and an AR-style pistol, along with numerous loaded magazines, shotgun shells, and two flamethrowers. They also found explosive materials, including thermite, ammonium nitrate, magnesium ribbon, metal pipes, and gasoline. [FOX5 Vegas]
Further investigation uncovered books in Maloney’s possession representing a range of extremist ideologies, including right-wing, left-wing, environmental, white supremacist, and anti-government beliefs, according to McMahill. He was also wearing soft body armor at the time of the incident.
Authorities have stated there was no damage to the power substation and no ongoing threat to the public. However, the investigation remains ongoing, and investigators have not yet determined Maloney’s specific motivation for targeting the facility. The incident prompted a response from both local and federal law enforcement agencies, including the FBI. [MSN]
The investigation echoes a similar incident in Nevada in January 2023, where a Colorado man set his car ablaze at a remote solar array, initially characterized as a potential terror attack. That man, Mohammed Reza Mesmarian, was later found to be struggling with personal issues, including the loss of his marriage and business, and was sentenced to two to ten years in prison [CPR].
As of Friday afternoon, investigators continue to analyze evidence collected from the scene and Maloney’s hotel room, seeking to understand the full scope of his plans and any potential connections to extremist groups. The FBI is assisting with the investigation, and authorities have not ruled out the possibility of additional suspects or collaborators.