Officials have identified the person found dead inside the Tesla Cybertruck that detonated outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas on New Year's Day as a US Army soldier from Colorado, who committed himself in the vehicle prior to the explosion.

"The individual had sustained a gunshot wound to the head prior to the detonation of the vehicle," Las Vegas Sheriff Kevin McMahill told reporters at a press conference on Thursday, citing coroner's findings.

Police identified the Cybertruck driver as Matthew Livelsberger, an active duty army soldier from Colorado Springs who acted alone. Seven other persons were injured when the Cybertruck exploded.

The explosion occurred on the same day as a devastating car-ramming incident in the southern city of New Orleans, which killed at least 15 people, including the suspect.

At least 35 other individuals were hurt in the incident, according to an official estimate released on Thursday. The incident is being investigated as a terrorist attack, with improvised explosive devices (IEDs) purportedly discovered in coolers placed on the pavement near the crime scene.