Law Student CRASHES Dam — Weapons Cache EXPOSED!

A 23-year-old law student armed with an arsenal of weapons and explosive devices rammed through security gates at a critical power substation near Hoover Dam in what authorities are calling a terrorism-related incident that exposed alarming vulnerabilities in America’s energy infrastructure.

Story Snapshot

Albany Law School student Dawson Noah Maloney crashed into an LADWP substation near Hoover Dam on February 19, 2026, then fatally shot himself
Authorities discovered an alarming cache including shotguns, AR-style pistol, flamethrowers, body armor, and extremist literature spanning multiple radical ideologies
FBI classified the incident as terrorism-related, marking the latest in a troubling pattern of attacks on U.S. energy infrastructure
The targeted substation transfers Hoover Dam hydroelectric power to millions across Nevada, Arizona, and California, though no damage or service disruptions occurred

Armed Law Student Breaches Critical Infrastructure

Dawson Noah Maloney traveled cross-country from Albany, New York, beginning February 14, 2026, in a rented Nissan Sentra loaded with weapons. At approximately 10 a.m. on February 19, he crashed through chain-link security gates at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power substation in Boulder City, Nevada, located near Hoover Dam. Witnesses reported hearing gunshots immediately after the crash. Maloney died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. The substation transfers approximately four billion kilowatt-hours annually from Hoover Dam to the Los Angeles basin, serving millions of Americans across three states.

Disturbing Arsenal and Mixed Extremist Ideologies Uncovered

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill revealed authorities discovered two shotguns, an AR-style pistol, loaded magazines, flamethrowers, a crowbar, and hatchet in Maloney’s vehicle. The suspect wore soft body armor during the incident. FBI agents searching Maloney’s hotel room at El Rancho Boulder Motel found what McMahill described as a “smorgasbord of radical literature” including right-wing, left-wing, environmental extremism, white supremacy, and anti-government materials. Federal investigators also recovered a 3D printer and gun parts from his Albany residence. This eclectic mix of extremist influences represents a disturbing trend law enforcement has observed among recent lone-actor threats.

Pattern of Attacks on Energy Grid Raises National Security Concerns

This incident follows a troubling series of attacks on American energy infrastructure that should alarm every citizen concerned about national security. In 2023, a man rammed a solar facility near Las Vegas serving Strip casinos and set it ablaze. That same year, substations in Washington, Oregon, and North Carolina faced attacks or resulted in arrests. In 2024, authorities arrested a Tennessee man with white nationalist ties for plotting a drone explosive attack on a Nashville power station. These coordinated and lone-actor threats expose critical vulnerabilities in systems that power American homes, businesses, and essential services. The recurring targeting of substations demonstrates how inadequate security measures at these facilities create opportunities for those seeking to disrupt American life.

Law Enforcement Response and Ongoing Investigation

FBI Special Agent in Charge Christopher Delzotto leads the federal investigation, with agents conducting forensic analysis of Maloney’s phone, computers, and documents recovered from multiple locations. Sheriff McMahill confirmed the classification as terrorism-related based on the weapons cache, body armor, extremist materials, and Maloney’s communications with family indicating suicidal intent mixed with desires for media notoriety. Maloney had identified himself to relatives as a “dead terrorist son” obligated to act. Boulder City Police Chief Timothy Shea confirmed no infrastructure damage occurred and no service disruptions affected customers. Albany Law School released a statement expressing they were “heartbroken” over the “tragic passing” of their Class of 2027 student.

The incident underscores legitimate concerns about both domestic extremism and the physical security of America’s power grid. While this particular attack resulted in no operational damage, the ease with which an individual accessed critical infrastructure carrying electricity to millions of Americans demands immediate attention. Federal authorities continue analyzing Maloney’s motives and whether his actions represent broader vulnerabilities that adversaries could exploit. As President Trump works to strengthen American infrastructure and national security, incidents like this highlight why robust protection of energy facilities must remain a priority against those who would harm our nation’s critical systems.