Man Dead After Crashing Car Into Nevada Power Facility

Authorities investigating incident as potential terrorist attack after finding weapons, explosives in vehicle.

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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A 23-year-old man from New York drove to Nevada, breached the perimeter of a Los Angeles Department of Water and Power facility, and fatally shot himself after the crash. Investigators found the man's rental car filled with weapons, explosives, and extremist literature, leading them to treat the incident as a potential terrorist attack.

Why it matters

Attacks on critical power infrastructure have become a growing concern for authorities, as extremists seek to destabilize society. This incident highlights the ongoing threat and the need for heightened security around sensitive energy facilities.

The details

Dawson Noah Maloney, from Albany, New York, drove to Nevada, stayed at a motel in Boulder City, and then breached the perimeter of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power facility on Thursday morning. His rental car contained multiple firearms, including shotguns and an AR-15 clone, as well as thermite, ammonium nitrate, and other explosive materials. Maloney's vehicle crashed into a cable spool on the facility's grounds, and he was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

  • The incident occurred around 10 a.m. on Thursday, February 20, 2026.
  • Maloney had been reported missing prior to the crash.

The players

Dawson Noah Maloney

A 23-year-old man from Albany, New York, who drove to Nevada and breached the perimeter of a power facility, where he was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police

The law enforcement agency investigating the incident as a potential terrorist attack.

Los Angeles Department of Water and Power

The owner of the power facility in Boulder City, Nevada, which was targeted in the incident.

Brian Levin

The director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino, who commented on the threat of extremists targeting power infrastructure.

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What they’re saying

“Power infrastructure has long been a target of extremists who seek to destabilize society.”

— Brian Levin, Director, Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism (NBC News)

What’s next

Authorities are continuing to investigate the motive and any potential accomplices in the incident.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing threat of extremist attacks on critical infrastructure, underscoring the need for heightened security measures and vigilance to protect sensitive energy facilities from potential disruption or sabotage.