LAS VEGAS — A husband and wife were fatally shot during a livestream near the iconic Bellagio fountains on the Las Vegas Strip, in a tragedy police say stemmed from a long-standing personal and online feud. The victims, identified as 43-year-old Tanisha Finley and 44-year-old Rodney Finley, died Sunday night from multiple gunshot wounds.
According to Las Vegas police, the deadly encounter was captured in real time on the couple’s shared YouTube channel. The suspect, 41-year-old Manuel D. Ruiz —known online as “Sin City Manny”—turned himself in the next morning. He was charged with two counts of open murder with a deadly weapon and remains held without bail.
The arrest report revealed that Ruiz and the Finleys had been feuding online since at least 2023. Investigators say tensions escalated on the night of the shooting when Ruiz approached the couple and opened fire. In the livestream, Ruiz is seen pulling a gun from his waistband and firing five to six shots. Moments later, additional shots ring out before the phone capturing the stream falls to the ground and remains still until police arrive and shut off the camera.
Ruiz claimed self-defense during police questioning, allegedly stating he thought one of the Finleys was reaching for a weapon. However, Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson firmly dismissed the claim, saying, “There’s no indication from any of the evidence that self-defense would be a viable defense.” Authorities confirmed no weapons were found on or near the victims. Prosecutors are considering pursuing the death penalty in the case.
The couple’s son was one of several people who called 911 after witnessing the shooting on the livestream. “I heard gunshots around him. I think he might have got shot,” he said in a tearful call. Family members, devastated by the tragedy, say they had pleaded with the couple to de-escalate the online conflict. Rodney Finley’s mother, Gracie Kennedy, told CBS affiliate KPHO-TV, “I told my son, ‘Come on, this is getting too far. Calm it down.’”
The shooting occurred in one of Las Vegas’ most heavily visited areas. As the investigation continues, the tragedy has sparked concern about real-world violence fueled by online disputes, and how quickly social media conflicts can spiral into deadly outcomes.