Alleged Bellagio Fountain Shooter Justifies Actions as Protective Measures
On June 10, 2025, chaos ensued on the bustling Las Vegas Strip when a brutal double-shooting left two innocent lives, Rodney and Tanisha Finley, taken prematurely. The culprit, Manuel Ruiz, a.k.a SinCity-Mannywise, a YouTube vlogger, stands accused of this heinous act.
Ruiz, 41, turned himself in to the authorities on Monday morning, cited for allegedly gunning down his rivals, Rodney, 44, and Tanisha, 43, in front of the Bellagio fountains. The vile attack was broadcast live by the very victims who would later tragically lose their lives.
Ruiz, in a twist of misleading justification, claims the shooting was in self-defense. He alleges that his victims approached him and his wife, Juliana Pimentel, while the quartet strolled down the infamous Strip. He further contends that Tanisha reached for a gun, forcing Ruiz to fire in self-defense. He claims Tanisha was brandishing a "shiny black object," which he believed to be a gun.
However, detective investigations prove otherwise. No weapons were found on or near the Finleys' bodies or in any of the subsequently posted videos online. The LVMPD believes this gruesome double-murder was the escalation of a social media feud between the vloggers that began in October 2023.
Incidentally, Ruiz's self-defense claim falls apart when it's considered that he discarded his hat, shirt, and a 9mm handgun outside the Paris Las Vegas valet, as observed in casino surveillance footage. Preliminary ballistics matched the gun to cartridge casings recovered from the crime scene.
Ruiz denies ever making direct threats against Rodney and insists he was unaware that the Finleys were livestreaming the fateful encounter. However, detective testimonies suggest that the livestream footage "clearly showed Manny advancing towards Finny while shooting," which left Ruiz wanting to consult with an attorney.
The court heard Ruiz's case for the first time on Tuesday morning, with Judge Suzan Baucum ordering him held without bail. The upcoming court appearance is slated for Thursday, June 12.
The tragic incident has sent shockwaves across the YouTube community, with fellow vloggers and online personalities mourning the loss of the "beautiful people" that the Finleys were[1][2][3][4][5]. This horrific event serves as a stark reminder of the dangers that can lurk even in the brightest of spots.
- The violent incident on the Las Vegas Strip, involving casino personalities Rodney and Tanisha Finley, has raised concerns about casino culture andGeneral News, as well asCrime and Justice, given the escalation of a social media feud that led to their untimely deaths.
- The double-shooting, broadcast live by the victims themselves, has cast a dark shadow over the Las Vegas casino-and-gambling scene, leading to further scrutiny and discussion about the role of individual behavior and online interactions in such incidents.
- The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) continues to investigate the case, analyzing surveillance footage from casinos along the Strip, as part of their effort to unearth the truth behind this tragic incident and bring the perpetrator, Manuel Ruiz, to justice.
