Man who crashed into Nevada substation found dead in car with arsenal in suspected terror incident: sheriff

This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

A heavily armed 23-year-old man who told his family he wanted to commit an act that would put him “on the news,” allegedly drove across the country and crashed a car into a Nevada power facility Thursday — an incident authorities are calling a potential act of terrorism.

Dawson Maloney, 23, of Albany, New York, was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound wearing soft body armor and holding a shotgun, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill said during a news conference Friday.

Officials said Maloney, who was recently reported missing out of New York, intentionally crashed a rental car through a secure gate protecting a Los Angeles Department of Water and Power facility near Boulder City at about 10 a.m. local time Thursday.

The power facility, owned by the city of Los Angeles, works closely with Hoover Dam, officials said. Power generated at the plant is transferred to the Hoover Dam basin.

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Video showed the car, which had New York license plates, speeding toward the gate, breaking the perimeter fence.

Maloney’s car was stopped by large, industrial wire reels, seemingly leading to his subsequent suicide, according to McMahill. He added that there is no ongoing threat to the public.

Officials said he spoke to his family prior to the attack and made multiple references to self harm and committing an act that would place him “on the news.”

In a message to his mother, Maloney referred to himself as a “dead terrorist son” and said he felt he “had an obligation to carry out his act,” according to McMahill.

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Two shotguns, an AR-style pistol, numerous loaded AR magazines, a box of shotgun shells, two flamethrowers containing thermite material, a crowbar and hatchet were found inside the car, leading the incident to be treated as a “terrorism related event,” according to McMahill.

Multiple books were found in Maloney’s hotel room related to extremist ideologies, including right- and left-wing extremism, environmental extremism, white supremacy and anti-government ideology. 

Authorities also recovered explosive materials and components to include thermite, ammonium nitrate, magnesium ribbon, metal pipes, and gasoline.

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A cellphone found in the car is being forensically analyzed, according to McMahill.

FBI Las Vegas and FBI Albany are assisting with the investigation, and carried out two search warrants in New York.

Electronics were pulled from one Albany home, and “several gun components” needed to assemble a gun, along with a 3D printer, were recovered from another house in Albany.

Based on the information uncovered, FBI agents believe Maloney rented a car on Feb. 12 in Albany, and left the area two days later.

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Boulder City Police Chief Tim Shea said there is no major damage to critical infrastructure at the power plant and there are no known service interruptions.

“We also recognize the gravity of an armed individual intentionally reaching the power facility while in possession of incendiary components. Our responsibility is to identify threats early, act decisively and protect critical infrastructure,” Shea said. “There is no continuing threat to the community.”