Las Vegas Strip shooting suspect claims he acted in self-defense; coroner IDs victims

Noble Brigham and Akiya Dillon, Las Vegas Review-Journal on Jun 10, 2025

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LAS VEGAS — The man accused of killing two people in a livestreamed shooting in front of the Bellagio Sunday night was held without bail after a court appearance Tuesday morning.

Manuel Ruiz, 41, faces two counts of open murder with a deadly weapon in connection with the shooting, which was livestreamed and claimed two lives. Ruiz turned himself in to Henderson police Monday.

On Tuesday, the Clark County coroner’s office identified the victims as 44-year-old Rodney Finley and 43-year-old Tanisha Finley. A police report said that the victims were in a romantic relationship.

Rodney Finley died of multiple gunshot wounds, and Tanisha Finley died of two gunshot wounds to the head, the coroner’s office said.

‘Ongoing social media feud’

Police said that Ruiz and one of the victims had an ongoing social media feud since October 2023, according to an arrest report. In an interview with detectives, Ruiz described the series of disputes as a “rivalry,” the report said.

Las Vegas Justice of the Peace Suzan Baucum said she found probable cause for Ruiz’s arrest and ordered him held without bail for the time being.

Video of the shooting, apparently livestreamed by the Finleys moments before their deaths, circulated on social media. The recording showed a woman confronting a man on the sidewalk near the Fountains of Bellagio. The shooter pulled out a handgun and fired at someone off-screen as the shocked woman screamed and multiple gunshots rang out.

The report stated that Ruiz was also with his wife, Juliana Pimentel, during the shooting, and they had also filmed the minutes before the confrontation.

Archie Coronado, identified by police as a witness who had been watching both livestreams, said that Ruiz had threatened him and Rodney Finley in the past by making finger gun gestures with his hand while saying “pow, pow, pow.”

Coronado also said he did not see Rodney or Tanisha Finley with a weapon during their livestream and “has not known them to carry weapons in the past.” The report did not state whether officers recovered any weapons from their bodies.

After the shooting, Pimentel approached nearby patrol officers and told them her husband, who had immediately fled the scene, had “just shot someone.” Discussing the feud, she also said that her family had received verbal threats and insults on YouTube and in the mail.

‘Shot in self-defense’

When Ruiz later turned himself in, he told police that he shot at the couple in self-defense, adding that Tanisha Finley began dancing in his face while he was walking down the street. At the same time, Rodney Finley reached for his waistband and asked, ‘What’s up, cuz?’ according to Ruiz’s story to the police.

“He insisted that he did not know Finny and his girl were livestreaming from that location,” the report read. “He denied ever making threats towards Finny.”

Running from the area, Ruiz discarded his bloody shirt, hat, and firearm, a 9mm Springfield XDM handgun, in the Paris Valet area before hailing a ride there, police said. Ruiz said he went to the home of a friend who encouraged him to turn himself in.

During the interview, detectives also showed Ruiz the video of the shooting.

“The video clearly showed Manny advancing toward Finny while shooting,” police said in the report. “Manny became frustrated and asked to speak with an attorney.”

GoFundMe created for the victims

Several curious people who watched the YouTube channels of Ruiz, Rodney Finley or both showed up at court to watch Ruiz’s hearing.

Marquise Wiley, a fellow YouTuber, said content creators on the platform fight over viewership.

Finley and Ruiz had a “childish” dispute and were “competing, who’s going to be the biggest YouTube creator in Las Vegas, who’s going to have all the clout,” he said.

“What Ruiz did was unethical, it was stupid and he deserves to be in prison for the rest of the life,” Wiley told reporters. “Those victims did not deserve to be killed.”

A memorial service for the Finleys is scheduled for Jun. 21, according to a GoFundMe online fundraiser that had raised nearly $3,500 of its stated $26,000 goal as of Tuesday morning.

The fundraiser said the Finleys had four kids, and that the fundraiser will help cover funeral costs.

“Their untimely deaths have left the family in deep mourning,” wrote organizer Jay Manning, who said he was the brother of Tanisha Finley. “While the pain of their loss is immeasurable, the generosity of others provides a great relief to lay them to rest.”

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(Reporter Casey Harrison contributed to this report.)

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