Las Vegas YouTube Couple Killer Indicted
The man who is suspected to be the YouTube couple killer who murdered his victims while live streaming on YouTube a month ago has been caught and indicted.
Rodney “Finny Da Legend” Finley (44) and his wife, Tanisha “Bubbly” Finley (43), built a modest but devoted following on YouTube by livestreaming candid commentary, community giveaways, and reaction videos.
Their Arizona‑based channel fostered a tight‑knit audience, many of whom tuned in nightly as the couple discussed trending topics and interacted live with viewers.
Meanwhile, Manuel “Sin City Manny” Ruiz (41), another Las Vegas–based streamer, cultivated an edgier brand under the channel Sin City Family.
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Beginning in October 2023, Ruiz and the Finleys exchanged heated jabs across livestreams and social media, a “beef” that occasionally turned personal — witnesses say Ruiz even pepper‑sprayed Tanisha during one altercation.
The Shooting on the Las Vegas Strip
On Sunday night, June 8, 2025, at approximately 10:40 p.m., Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) officers on patrol along the 3600 block of South Las Vegas Boulevard heard multiple gunshots emanating from the west side of the street, directly adjacent to the famed Bellagio fountains.
Moments later, officers discovered the Finleys lying mortally wounded; both were pronounced dead at the scene from multiple gunshot injuries.
Unbeknownst to the assailant, the couple had been livestreaming the entire encounter to their YouTube audience. Viewers reported hearing seven shots before the feed abruptly cut out as a responding officer shut down the stream.
Investigation and Arrest
Surveillance footage from nearby casino cameras tracked a lone suspect — later identified as Ruiz — from the Fountain show area to the Paris Las Vegas valet stand, where investigators allege he disposed of his hat, shirt, and a 9 mm handgun.
Minutes after the shooting, Ruiz turned himself in at a Henderson police station, telling officers he had acted in self‑defense.
He was immediately booked into the Clark County Detention Center on suspicion of two counts of open murder with a deadly weapon, held without bail.
Grand Jury Indictment and Charges
On July 11, 2025, a Clark County grand jury returned indictments against Ruiz for two counts of open murder with a deadly weapon, setting his arraignment for July 17 in District Court.
Prosecutors have indicated they will review additional charges or enhancements — potentially including premeditation — depending on further evidence from digital communications and eyewitness testimony.
Defense’s Self‑Defense Claim
According to the arrest report, Ruiz insists the encounter was entirely accidental.
He and his wife were “strolling down the Strip” when Tanisha allegedly approached the Finleys, and Rodney reached for what Ruiz believed was a firearm — prompting him to fire “to save his own life”.
Ruiz further claims he then saw Tanisha brandishing a “shiny black object” and shot her under the same self‑defense rationale.
He maintains he was unaware the couple was livestreaming at the time and denies any prior threats against Rodney.
Prosecutorial Response
Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson has publicly rejected the self‑defense narrative as “garbage”. He stated that there were no weapons on the victims. Also, pointing to the pre‑shooting, he pointe to surveillance as evidence of intent.
Wolfson also signaled that the state would consider seeking the death penalty if the evidence supports that level of culpability.
YouTube Couple’s Killer – Next Steps in Court
Ruiz is scheduled for arraignment on July 17, 2025, where he will enter a formal plea. Pre‑trial hearings will address bail — or continued denial thereof — and motions concerning evidence, including the admissibility of the livestream and surveillance footage.
If the case proceeds to trial, prosecutors must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Ruiz did not act in self‑defense. And that the killings were intentional.
His defense team will likely focus on the split‑second decision‑making and Ruiz’s belief in an imminent threat to justify the shootings.
Implications for Influencer Culture
The tragic deaths of the Finleys have reverberated throughout the online creator community.
There are debates on how livestream platforms should handle escalating conflicts between personalities. Also, what tools might prevent digital disputes from turning deadly.
As LVMPD’s investigation continues, the case stands as a stark reminder of the potentially lethal consequences when online feuds spill into the real world.
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