Man rams car into LADWP-owned facility near Las Vegas; police looking into possible act of terrorism

LAS VEGAS (KABC) -- Police are looking into a possible act of terrorism after a man rammed his car into an LADWP-owned power facility near Las Vegas.

The suspect has been identified as 23-year-old Dawson Maloney of Albany, New York.

Video captured the moment a fast-moving car crashed through a gate at a power substation near Boulder City, Nevada.

Police say the driver of the vehicle shot and killed himself after the crash.

Investigators recovered several weapons, including a flamethrower, inside his car.

During a search of his hotel room, they found explosive gas and several books.

"The search of the motel room revealed multiple books related to extremist ideologies. Including right- and left-wing extremism, environmental extremism, white supremacy and anti-government ideology," Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill said.

A hotel guest recalls seeing the suspect.

"He had his hoodie up and just looked really sketchy. There was just something off about him," said Logan Stubbs.

Investigators tracked Maloney's moves and said he left his home in Albany several days ago and drove across the country.

The substation in Boulder City works closely with Hoover Dam, transferring power to the Los Angeles Basin.

Investigators say Maloney had communicated with his family before the crash, referencing self-harm, and believe this was a terrorism-related incident.

"In a message to his mother, the suspect referred to himself as a dead terrorist son and stated he felt he had an obligation to carry out his act," said McMahill.

"Additionally, we discovered the subject was wearing soft body armor at the time of this incident. These findings significantly elevate the seriousness of this incident," he added.

There was no major damage reported at the facility, and there were no disruptions to its operation.