YouTuber charged with murder after deadly Bellagio shooting caught on livestream
A long-running online feud between content creators ended in tragedy Sunday night when a shooting outside the Bellagio fountains left two people dead in an incident that was broadcast live to viewers across the internet.
Manuel Ruiz, 41, who went by “Sin City Manny” online, has been charged with two counts of murder for allegedly shooting Rodney Finley, 44, known as “Finny Da Legend,” and his wife Tanisha Finley, 43, who went by “Bubbly.” The shooting occurred around 10:40 p.m. on one of the busiest stretches of the Las Vegas Strip.
Caught on camera
The deadly encounter was captured on Rodney Finley’s YouTube livestream, which showed him walking near the Bellagio fountains with his wife when the shooting began. According to witness accounts and police reports, Ruiz appeared in the livestream’s frame, pulled a gun from his waistband, and fired multiple shots.
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police officers on routine patrol heard the gunfire and immediately responded, finding both victims with gunshot wounds on the sidewalk. Despite medical personnel arriving quickly, both were pronounced dead at the scene.
Following the shooting, Ruiz fled to the nearby Paris Hotel where surveillance footage showed him discarding his hat and shirt. He turned himself in at a Henderson police station Monday morning, approximately 11 hours after the incident.
Years of online conflict
The shooting appears to be the deadly culmination of a feud that began in 2023, according to court documents and fellow content creators familiar with both men. The conflict reportedly started after an incident where Ruiz allegedly pepper sprayed Tanisha Finley, leading to ongoing disputes played out through their respective YouTube channels.
Both men were part of Las Vegas’s small but active community of livestreamers who broadcast their walks around the city. According to those familiar with the situation, tensions arose over territorial disputes about who could stream in certain areas, with Ruiz allegedly attempting to control streaming locations on the Strip.
The feud escalated through copyright strikes, with each creator allegedly trying to shut down the other’s YouTube channel. Court records show Ruiz had previously been cited for battery after a confrontation with Finley on Fremont Street in early 2025.
Self-defense claim disputed
During his initial court appearance Tuesday, Ruiz claimed he acted in self-defense, telling detectives he saw Rodney Finley reach for his waistband and heard him say “what’s up cuz?” in what he interpreted as an aggressive manner. Ruiz said he believed Finley was reaching for a weapon and also claimed he saw Tanisha holding a “shiny black object” he thought was a gun.
However, police found no weapons on either victim, and video evidence appears to contradict Ruiz’s account. When detectives showed Ruiz footage that “clearly showed Manny advancing towards Finny while shooting,” according to the arrest report, Ruiz became frustrated and requested an attorney.
Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson was blunt in his assessment of the self-defense claim during a Thursday press conference: “I think it’s garbage. There’s no indication from any of the evidence at all that self-defense would be a viable defense.”
Community mourns
A Tuesday night vigil near the Bellagio fountains drew about two dozen people, including fellow streamers and fans who had watched the couple’s content. Friends described Rodney Finley as a father and grandfather who had recently started his YouTube channel, which had grown to over 4,000 subscribers.
“She would have fun everywhere she went. People wanted to be around her,” Derek Ware, a friend of the couple, said of Tanisha Finley, noting how she lived up to her “Bubbly” online persona.
The tragedy has shaken Las Vegas’s content creator community, with many streamers expressing shock that online disputes could escalate to deadly violence. Some have called for reflection on how conflicts are handled within their community.
Legal proceedings ahead
Ruiz is being held without bail at the Clark County Detention Center and is scheduled to return to court on July 3. Prosecutors have indicated they may seek the death penalty due to the nature of the crimes.
The case highlights concerns about online feuds spilling into real-world violence and raises questions about platform responsibility when digital conflicts escalate. YouTube has not responded to requests for comment about the incident or their policies regarding creator disputes.
District Attorney Wolfson emphasized that despite this tragic incident, the Las Vegas Strip remains “one of the safest communities in the world,” calling this an isolated incident among the thousands who visit the area daily.
For now, two families mourn their losses while the legal system determines the fate of a man whose alleged actions turned internet drama into real-world tragedy on one of the world’s most famous streets.
Image Source: https://www.aol.com/news/youtuber-claims-self-defense-las-203746597.html
Category: Breaking News, Local News
Subcategory: Crime & Safety
Date: 07/04/2025
