On June 8, 2025, a tragic shooting on the Las Vegas Strip near the Bellagio Fountains left two people dead, an incident captured on a livestream and linked to a social media feud. Below is a detailed analysis of the event, the victims, the cause of death, the suspect, and the broader implications, based on available reports.
The Incident
- Details of the Shooting:
- The shooting occurred around 10:40 p.m. on June 8, 2025, in the 3600 block of South Las Vegas Boulevard, outside the Bellagio Hotel and Casino, near the iconic Bellagio Fountains.
- Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) officers on patrol heard gunfire and found two victims suffering from gunshot wounds on the sidewalk. Despite attempts to render medical aid, both victims were pronounced dead at the scene.
- The incident was livestreamed on the victims’ shared YouTube channel, capturing the moment a man opened fire. The video showed a confrontation, followed by approximately seven gunshots, with tourists fleeing and seeking cover. The livestream ended when a police officer picked up the phone and turned it off.
- Context:
- The shooting took place on one of the busiest stretches of the Las Vegas Strip, where the Bellagio Fountains draw crowds every 15 minutes on weekend evenings. The public nature of the incident amplified its impact, with videos circulating widely on social media.
The Victims
- Identity:
- The Clark County Coroner’s Office identified the victims as Tanisha Finley, 43, and Rodney Finley, 44, a married couple. Rodney was known online as “Finny Da Legend,” a YouTube streamer.
- Both were Las Vegas residents, and their son was among the 911 callers, reporting hearing gunshots and expressing concern for his parents’ safety.
- Cause of Death:
- The coroner’s office confirmed that Tanisha and Rodney Finley died from multiple gunshot wounds.
- Community Response:
- On June 10, 2025, a vigil attended by nearly two dozen people was held near the Bellagio Fountains, with candles and flowers placed in memory of the Finleys. Marc Sanson, another YouTube streamer known as TheOtherMeLV, was among those who paid tribute.
The Suspect
- Identity and Arrest:
- The suspect, Manuel D. Ruiz, 41, surrendered to authorities on June 9, 2025, at a police station in Henderson, Nevada. He faces two counts of open murder with a deadly weapon and is being held without bail at the Clark County Detention Center.
- Ruiz was also a YouTube streamer and claimed to have been livestreaming on the Strip that night. He told police he fired because he believed one of the victims was reaching for a weapon, though no firearms were found on the victims.
- Motive:
- Police described the shooting as an isolated incident stemming from a social media feud between Ruiz and the Finleys, ongoing since at least 2023. A witness, Archie Coronado, reported that Ruiz had previously threatened Rodney Finley and others with finger gun gestures, saying “pow, pow, pow.”
- The livestreamed confrontation reportedly showed a woman, believed to be Tanisha Finley, confronting Ruiz before he opened fire.
- Legal Status:
- On June 10, 2025, Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Suzan Baucum found probable cause for Ruiz’s arrest and ordered him held without bail. Prosecutors are considering seeking the death penalty.
Mysteries and Unresolved Questions
- Nature of the Social Media Feud:
- The exact details of the conflict between Ruiz and the Finleys remain unclear. Police have not disclosed the specific social media platforms or the nature of the dispute, only noting it spanned multiple platforms and dated back to at least 2023.
- The role of social media in escalating the feud to violence raises questions about online interactions and their real-world consequences, particularly among content creators.
- Self-Defense Claim:
- Ruiz’s claim of self-defense is under scrutiny, as police found no weapons on the victims. The livestreamed footage, which has since been removed from YouTube, is a key piece of evidence, but its full contents have not been publicly detailed.
- The presence of Ruiz’s wife, Juliana Pimentel, during the shooting adds complexity, as she was reportedly filming the Strip minutes before the incident. Her role, if any, remains unclear.
- Livestream Dynamics:
- The fact that both the victims and the suspect were livestreaming raises questions about whether the public nature of the confrontation escalated tensions. The footage’s circulation on social media, despite its removal from YouTube, has fueled public speculation.
Broader Implications
- Impact on Las Vegas Tourism:
- The shooting, occurring in a high-traffic tourist area, has raised concerns about safety on the Las Vegas Strip, a key economic driver with millions of annual visitors. The Bellagio Fountains, a free attraction, are a symbol of the city’s vibrancy, and such incidents could deter tourists.
- Police emphasized the incident’s isolated nature to reassure the public, but the high-profile location and livestreamed nature amplify its visibility.
- Social Media and Violence:
- The case highlights the growing intersection of social media disputes and real-world violence, particularly among content creators. The Finleys’ and Ruiz’s status as YouTubers underscores how online rivalries can escalate fatally.
- Posts on X reflect public shock, with some users noting the tragedy of a “YouTube beef” turning deadly, emphasizing the need for better conflict resolution in online communities.
- Public Safety and Policing:
- The rapid response of LVMPD officers, who ran toward gunfire to aid victims, was praised, but the incident underscores the challenges of policing crowded public spaces. The department’s use of bodycam footage and public appeals via X demonstrates efforts to maintain transparency.
- The shooting’s comparison to the 2017 Route 91 Harvest Festival massacre, the deadliest in U.S. history, underscores Las Vegas’s sensitivity to gun violence.
Conclusion
The June 8, 2025, shooting near the Bellagio Fountains, which killed Tanisha and Rodney Finley, was a tragic culmination of a social media feud, captured in real-time on a YouTube livestream. The suspect, Manuel Ruiz, surrendered and faces murder charges, claiming self-defense despite no evidence of weapons on the victims. The incident, while isolated, raises questions about the dangers of online conflicts, the safety of public spaces like the Las Vegas Strip, and the role of livestreaming in escalating or documenting violence. As the investigation continues, with Ruiz’s trial pending, the case serves as a stark reminder of the real-world consequences of digital disputes and the challenges of preventing such tragedies in a connected world.
Sources:
- AP News
- Las Vegas Review-Journal
- The New York Times
- NBC News
- Newsweek
- ABC News
- News3LV
- People
- FOX5 Vegas
- The Independent
- Posts on X
