An incident on Sunday night disrupted activity on the Las Vegas Strip when a confrontation between two YouTube personalities escalated into gunfire, resulting in a fatal outcome. According to FOX5, the incident occurred just before 11 p.m. outside the Bellagio Hotel & Casino. In the aftermath, two content creators, Rodney Finley, 44, and his wife, Tanisha, 34, lay dead.
The ordeal was captured live on Rodney Finley's YouTube channel, which led to numerous 911 calls from viewers witnessing the violence unfold, "There's a shooting out here, somebody's shooting,” one caller recounted in audio obtained by FOX5. Manuel Ruiz, a 41-year-old Las Vegas resident has been identified as the suspect. Ruiz was said to have been involved in an ongoing feud with the Finleys, according to a friend of Rodney's, Derek Ware.
Additional insight into the conflict between Ruiz and Rodney Finley, was gleaned from an arrest report indicating they had been embroiled in a social media conflict since at least October 2023. This report was highlighted by Channel 13, who also covered the release of the 911 calls, showing what occurred during the incident that evening.
Following the shooting, Ruiz turned himself into Henderson police hours later, claiming self-defense. He indicated that Rodney had aggressively reached for his waistband, and that Tanisha was holding "a shiny black object" he perceived as a firearm, according to statements obtained by FOX5.
Despite his claims, footage from the livestream appeared to contradict this narrative, showing Ruiz advancing toward Rodney before shots were fired. Charged with two counts of open murder, Ruiz remains in custody without bail, and his court appearance is scheduled for July 3, as reported by Channel 13.
