Published on: February 21, 2026, 03:50h.

Updated on: February 21, 2026, 04:04h.

• A suspected terrorist is deceased following a deliberate attack on a power substation near Las Vegas, culminating in suicide.
• Law enforcement discovered a stockpile of arms, explosive-making supplies, and extremist literature in the suspect’s vehicle and hotel accommodations.
• The suspect, identified as 23-year-old Dawson Maloney from New York, referred to himself as a “dead terrorist son” prior to the incident.

A tragic event unfolded as a man, labeled a terrorist by authorities, died after crashing a rental vehicle into a power substation close to Las Vegas. Law enforcement reports that Dawson Maloney, 23, made the long journey from Albany, New York, before intentionally driving his rental car into the Boulder City substation on Thursday and subsequently taking his own life. Numerous lethal weapons were located in the vehicle, along with bomb-making components and anti-government propaganda found in his hotel room.

At around 10 a.m. Thursday, Boulder City authorities received a 911 notification regarding a vehicle crash at a power facility, followed by reported gunfire moments later. Upon arrival, officers discovered a silver Nissan Sentra that had crashed into industrial wire spools.

Maloney was found in the driver’s seat, having succumbed to what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was equipped with soft body armor and was found clutching a shotgun believed to be the weapon used for his suicide.

According to Sheriff Kevin McMahill of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the car had been purposefully driven through the entryway. Inside the vehicle, officers uncovered two shotguns, an AR-style pistol, a multitude of magazines, a box of shotgun shells, devices resembling flamethrowers, and a hatchet.

Due to the presence of the weapons and the nature of the incident, Metro’s counterterrorism unit was dispatched to the location around 1 p.m., and the FBI offices in Las Vegas and Albany were alerted.

Why Is This Considered Terrorism?

A search of Maloney’s hotel room in Boulder City resulted in the finding of explosive-making materials, such as thermite, ammonium nitrate, metal pipes, and gasoline. Investigators also came across literature promoting extremist beliefs across the spectrum — including white supremacist propaganda, anti-government texts, and writings associated with both extreme right and left movements.

“Due to the location and materials identified, this incident was classified as terrorism-related out of an abundance of caution,” stated Las Vegas police, emphasizing that “there is currently no further threat to public safety.”

Reports indicate that Maloney, who had been recently reported missing by his family, rented the vehicle in New York on February 12 and began his westward journey two days later, with license-plate recognition tracking his travel across the nation.

McMahill noted that Maloney had been in communication with his family prior to the incident and made unsettling remarks, including identifying himself as a “dead terrorist son” and expressing intentions to engage in actions that would attract media attention.

Federal authorities have executed searches at two residences in the Albany area linked to Maloney. One site yielded electronics, while another contained gun components and a 3D printer. The FBI confirmed that interviews with contacts and analysis of collected materials are ongoing.

The targeted facility is a substation vital for transmitting electricity from the Hoover Dam to Southern California. Boulder City Police Chief Tim Shea confirmed that the incident caused minimal damage and did not affect power delivery. Investigators are still determining why Maloney specifically chose this location or if he had any previous ties to it.

In a similar case, in January 2023, Mohammad Mesmarian crashed his vehicle through the gate of the MGM Resorts Mega Array solar facility in North Las Vegas and subsequently set his car ablaze while parked inside a generator pit, temporarily incapacitating the facility. He was sentenced to a minimum of two years in prison.