Bellagio Fountains Assassin Claims He Shot in Self-Defense

Posted on: June 10, 2025, 02:09h. 

Last updated on: July 17, 2025, 04:41h.

Corey Levitan Read More
Expertise: Commercial Gaming, Entertainment, Expert Insight, Las Vegas, Restaurants, Vegas Myths Busted.
  • Manuel “SinCity-Mannywise” Ruiz faces murder charges after allegedly shooting and killing rival vlogger Rodney “Finny Da Legend” Finley and his wife outside the Bellagio on Saturday night
  • The two vloggers reportedly had a long-running feud that led to previous confrontations
  • Ruiz claims self defense in the shooting, which was livestreamed by his victims

The man arrested for shooting and killing two people in front of the Bellagio fountains on Sunday night claims he fired in self-defense, according to his arrest report — despite a video livestreamed by his victims that strongly suggests that the attack was unprovoked and premeditated.

Las Vegas resident Manuel Ruiz filmed himself driving up and down the Strip a day before the shooting, apparently searching for Rodney Finley and addressing him cryptically: “You come to my city and think I’m not going to show up? … Wherever you go, I will be there!” (Image: X)

Manuel Ruiz, 41 (known on YouTube as SinCity-Mannywise) gunned down his rival vlogger, 44-year-old Rodney Finley (Finny Da Legend on YouTube) and his 43-year-old wife, Tanisha Finley, while they livestreamed, after Ruiz had hunted them for more than a day, as revealed by this YouTube clip.

Ruiz made the self-defense claim after turning himself in on Monday morning, according to the report. He told Las Vegas Metropolitan Police (LVMPD) officers that he and his wife, Juliana Pimentel, just happened to come across his victims while strolling down the Strip.

Ruiz, who faces two counts of open murder with a deadly weapon, claimed that he was approached by Tanisha, at which time, Rodney reached for a gun. Ruiz said he shot him to save his own life. He said he saw Tanisha then brandishing a “shiny black object” and shot her as well, believing it was also a gun.

Diss Information

Manuel Ruiz, circled in red, is shown as he first appears in his victims’ livestream, strolling behind them without glancing over. This strongly suggests an attempt to build evidence that his attack wasn’t premeditated. In this moment, a grinning Rodney Finley is as blissfully unaware of what is about to happen as Ruiz apparently pretends to be. (Image: YouTube/@Pikey)

The LVMPD noted that no weapons were found on or near the Finleys’ bodies, and none were seen in the livestream or in any of the videos posted online.

They believe the brutal double-shooting was the culmination of a social media feud between the vloggers that started in October 2023. Another YouTuber told police that the feud sparked several physical altercations between the two, one of which got Ruiz cited for battery on Fremont Street.

According to Ruiz’s arrest report, detectives used casino surveillance footage to track him from the crime scene back to the Paris Las Vegas valet, where he disposed of his hat, shirt, and a 9mm handgun.

Preliminary ballistics matched the gun to cartridge casings recovered from the crime scene.

Ruiz claimed he was unaware that the Finleys were livestreaming and denied ever making threats toward Rodney.

According to police, after they showed Ruiz the Finleys’ livestream video, which “clearly showed Manny advancing towards Finny while shooting,” Ruiz “became frustrated and asked to speak with an attorney.”

Ruiz appeared in court for the first time on Tuesday morning. Judge Suzan Baucum ordered him held without bail. His next scheduled court appearance is Thursday, June 12.