A long-standing online dispute between two YouTube streamers escalated into deadly violence over the weekend in Las Vegas, resulting in the tragic deaths of 44-year-old Rodney Finley, known as Finny Da Legend, and his wife, Tanisha Finley.
The alleged shooter, 41-year-old Manuel Ruiz, also known online as Sin City Manny, is now facing serious criminal charges, including two counts of murder.
The Deadly Confrontation
According to reports, the fatal incident occurred outside a resort on the Las Vegas Strip. Ruiz told authorities that Tanisha Finley approached him outside the resort and began dancing in his face.
He also claimed that Rodney Finley then made a move toward his waistband and asked him “What’s up cuz?” in an aggressive manner, which led him to believe he was in danger. Fearing for his life, Ruiz reportedly shot Finley in what he claimed was an act of self-defense.
Ruiz stated that he first fired one shot toward Finley’s torso but shot him again when Finley continued to move toward his waistband. Tanisha Finley was also shot after Ruiz saw her with a “shiny black object,” which he mistook for a gun.
The Livestream and Witness Accounts
A mutual friend of the YouTubers, who was also a fellow content creator, reportedly witnessed the shooting on a livestream. According to the arrest report, the friend saw Ruiz draw a gun and point it toward Finley.
The friend claimed he saw the muzzle flash on the video and heard several gunshots. This friend immediately informed the police, helping officers track down Ruiz. Authorities later captured Ruiz after his wife, Juliana Pimentel, approached the police and confessed her husband’s involvement in the shooting.
The Feud Behind the Violence
The altercation that led to the murder was reportedly the result of an ongoing feud between the two YouTubers. According to several sources, Ruiz and Finley had been arguing for years over their online presence, with both seeking to gain more viewers and control over the streaming scene in Las Vegas.
It was suggested that Ruiz had become upset with Finley’s growing popularity, claiming that Finley was filming in places that Ruiz had wanted to keep control over.
Other streamers, including Daniel Gutierrez, claimed that Ruiz’s jealousy of Finley’s increasing following, especially after he started attracting Ruiz’s former viewers, contributed to the tension.
In addition to online arguments, there were earlier physical confrontations. Derek Ware, a friend of Finley, revealed that Ruiz had previously aimed pepper spray at Finley’s wife, Tanisha, during an earlier incident.
Ware expressed his relief that the situation had not turned deadly at that time, saying, “I’m just glad it was pepper spray, it wasn’t bullets.”
The Aftermath and Legal Charges
Ruiz has been charged with two counts of murder following the deaths of Rodney and Tanisha Finley. He was arrested and ordered to be held without bail. The Las Vegas Justice Court judge has yet to set a trial date, but the case has already attracted widespread attention due to its tragic and violent nature.
Fellow YouTubers have spoken out about the intense rivalry between the two content creators and the events that led to the deadly confrontation.
The fatal shooting of Rodney and Tanisha Finley underscores the dangers of online rivalries spilling over into real-world violence. What began as an online feud between two YouTubers seeking to grow their streams tragically ended in the loss of two lives.
As the legal process unfolds, the incident serves as a stark reminder of how deeply personal and public online conflicts can become, with life-altering consequences.
