Key Point Summary – YouTuber kills rival
- Two YouTubers feuded online for two years
- Feud ends in double shooting outside Bellagio
- Victims livestreamed moments before being shot
- Suspect claims self-defense, citing perceived threats
- No weapons found on victims at the scene
- Surveillance tracked shooter fleeing into valet
- Community mourns loss of couple known for positivity
A Feud Ends in Bloodshed
The Las Vegas Strip turned into a live crime scene Sunday night when a long-running feud between online personalities ended in gunfire. According to police and media reports, YouTuber kills rival after an ugly two-year dispute spiraled into a double murder just outside the Bellagio Hotel and Casino.
Rodney “Finny Da Legend” Finley, 44, and his wife, Tanisha “Bubbly” Finley, 43, were gunned down in front of tourists, fans, and their own camera. The couple, well known in the Arizona YouTube community, were live-streaming their trip when shots rang out. They died within minutes.
The accused shooter? A fellow YouTuber and longtime rival named Manuel Ruiz, 41, better known online as “Sin City Manny.” He now faces two counts of open murder with a deadly weapon.
Livestream Ends in Horror
Footage posted online shows Rodney Finley walking the Strip, phone in hand, chatting with his followers. Then, with no warning, a man steps into the frame and opens fire. Viewers initially thought it was a prank — until screaming filled the stream and the camera fell.
Within 24 hours, Ruiz walked into a Las Vegas police station and surrendered. He reportedly told officers he acted in self-defense. According to his arrest report, Ruiz claimed that Finley reached toward his waistband and said, “What up cuz?” — a phrase Ruiz interpreted as a gang threat.
Ruiz also admitted to shooting Tanisha Finley, saying he saw a “shiny black object” in her hand that he believed was a weapon. But Las Vegas Metro police say no firearms were found near the bodies or in any footage reviewed.
Rivalry Fueled by Views and Hate
Ruiz and the Finleys had been at odds since 2023. That year, Ruiz allegedly pepper-sprayed Tanisha during an altercation. From there, the battle moved online. Both sides uploaded videos, commentary, and live chats throwing shade at one another.
Friend Derek Ware says Rodney tried to stay calm through the ordeal. “Rodney controlled his emotions very well. That’s what I liked most about him,” he told Fox5. Ware also said the couple tried to resolve things peacefully after the pepper spray incident.
Yet the feud never died. If anything, it escalated as Finley’s subscriber count rose and Ruiz’s numbers fell. Jealousy and resentment reportedly grew on both sides of the digital divide.
From Roasts to Reality
Rodney often opened up his YouTube livestreams to fans, encouraging open conversation — including criticism of his rival. But Ware insists it was never about bullying.
“Manny was welcome to come on and defend himself. It wasn’t just a bash,” Ware explained. “It was everybody’s experiences.”
The feud became a topic of public conversation, with Finley using it as material while trying to stay fair and composed. Ruiz, however, appeared to take the attention personally.
Police believe the shooting may have been premeditated. After the attack, surveillance video captured Ruiz running into a valet area, where he discarded his shirt and hat in an apparent attempt to evade identification.
YouTuber Kills Rival, Then Wife
The phrase “YouTuber kills rival” doesn’t even begin to capture the shock that swept through the streaming community. The violence didn’t stop with Rodney. Ruiz fired again — this time at Tanisha, a beloved figure in her own right.
Ruiz claims he thought she had a weapon, but police say no gun was ever found. Her only crime may have been standing next to her husband at the wrong moment.
Ware said Tanisha was exactly as bubbly and joyful as her screen name suggested. “She would have fun everywhere she went. People wanted to be around her.”
Vegas Shaken by Livestream Tragedy
The Strip, typically known for glamor, glitz, and non-stop action, now has another distinction: it was the scene of a brutal double murder broadcast to the world.
Tourists watched in horror as crime scene tape surrounded one of the busiest spots in Las Vegas. Cell phones were out. People recorded. And many were left asking: how did an internet feud turn into something so deadly?
As police pieced together surveillance footage, Ruiz remained behind bars. He has not entered a plea, and court records indicate more charges could follow.
A Community in Mourning
Ware, still in shock, said he was supposed to be with Rodney that night but stayed home to rest before surgery. “That’s just sick,” he said. “You just ruined two families.”
Friends and followers of the Finleys flooded social media with tributes. One follower posted, “You were the realest couple on here. RIP Finny and Bubbly.”
Rodney was remembered not just as a streamer but as a father, a grandfather, and a kind man who gave to those in need. “He would always check up on me. He donated to people online who needed help,” Ware said.
Tanisha’s memory was equally strong. Her warmth, her energy — it was felt in every interaction. Her loss leaves a hole in the YouTube community and beyond.
