YouTuber Faces Death Penalty for Livestream Double Murder on Las Vegas Strip

Prosecutors are weighing the possibility of pursuing the death penalty against Manuel “Sin City Manny” Ruiz, who is accused of killing rival YouTube streamer Rodney Finley and his wife, Tanisha, during their livestream in front of the Bellagio fountains on June 8.

Ruiz Faces Death Penalty for Las Vegas Strip Double Murder 

Ruiz, 41 years old, faces two felony charges of murder with the use of a deadly weapon in connection with the shooting, which took place while the Finleys were livestreaming. Both victims were pronounced dead at the scene. During Ruiz’s court appearance, chief deputy district attorney Elizabeth Mercer stated that the case will be reviewed by a death penalty committee, which is scheduled to meet on July 29.

A Clark County grand jury charged Ruiz with the double killing, with the July 11 indictment allowing the case to proceed directly to district court, where preliminary hearings will be held. According to Las Vegas police, the shooting was the result of an ongoing social media feud between the two content creators. Ruiz surrendered at a Henderson police station the day after the incident, claiming he acted in self-defense. He is currently being held without bail at the Clark County Detention Center and is scheduled to appear in court again on August 4.

More About the Case

Clark County district attorney Steve Wolfson described the case as involving the deaths of two innocent individuals, stating that whenever two people are needlessly and senselessly killed, pursuing the death penalty is always a consideration. Ruiz appeared in Las Vegas Justice Court on Thursday morning for his arraignment. 

According to his arrest report, he told police after his arrest that he shot both victims in self-defense, believing they were about to shoot him. Wolfson dismissed the self-defense claim, saying, “I think it’s probably garbage.” He noted that no weapons were found on or near the victims and added that “the motivation is pretty clear.”

The shooting happened on June 8 in front of the Bellagio fountains and was broadcast live on social media through the victims’ livestream. It allegedly resulted from a social media feud between Ruiz and Rodney Finley that had been escalating since 2023, according to another YouTube content creator who spoke with police. Feel free to check out our more detailed coverage of the incident that happened on that fateful day. 

Wolfson also took the opportunity to address public concerns about safety on the Las Vegas Strip. He emphasized his belief that the Las Vegas community, especially the Strip, is among the safest in the country. He described incidents like this as isolated and pointed out that, given the large number of tourists, residents, and employees who frequent the Strip, it remains a very safe area.