Rodney Finley, a 44-year-old Black or African American male also known as Finny Da Legend, was fatally shot on the evening of Sunday, June 8, 2025, in Las Vegas, Nevada. The incident, which also resulted in the death of his 43-year-old wife, Tanisha Finley, occurred on a bustling sidewalk near the iconic Bellagio fountains on the Las Vegas Strip. The couple was visiting from Arizona at the time of the tragic event.
The shooting unfolded in a shockingly public manner, captured on a livestream from Rodney Finley’s own YouTube channel, as tourists and bystanders looked on in horror.
The altercation stemmed from a long-standing and bitter feud between Rodney Finley and another YouTuber, 41-year-old Manuel "Manny" Ruiz, also known as Sin City Manny. Their rivalry, which had been escalating for over a year, played out across various social media platforms and reportedly involved copyright disputes, public insults, and even a prior physical altercation where Ruiz was cited for battery. The conflict reached its fatal climax when Ruiz confronted the Finleys as they were livestreaming their visit to the Strip. Witnesses and the livestream video itself captured Ruiz approaching the couple before drawing a handgun and opening fire. Rodney Finley was shot multiple times, including twice in the head, and Tanisha Finley was also fatally wounded. Both were pronounced dead at the scene.
In the immediate aftermath, Manuel Ruiz fled the scene, discarding his hat, shirt, and the 9mm handgun used in the shooting. However, the following morning, he surrendered himself to the Henderson Police Department. Ruiz has since been charged with two counts of open murder with a deadly weapon and is being held without bail. He has claimed that he acted in self-defense, alleging that he believed Rodney Finley was reaching for a weapon and that Tanisha Finley was holding a "shiny black object" he mistook for a gun. However, authorities have disputed this claim, stating that no weapons were found on or near the victims. The Clark County District Attorney has called Ruiz's self-defense claim "garbage" and has indicated that prosecutors are considering seeking the death penalty. Ruiz has been indicted by a grand jury on two counts of murder and remains in custody awaiting further court proceedings.
