The YouTuber accused of gunning down two fellow content creators in the middle of a livestream on the Las Vegas Strip is now facing the death penalty, according to newly filed court documents.
Manuel Ruiz — known online as ‘Sin City Manny’ — has been charged with two counts of felony murder in the deaths of Rodney and Tanisha Finley, who were shot and killed during a June 8 livestream near the Bellagio fountains.
Prosecutors filed notice that they intend to pursue the death penalty, citing two aggravating factors: that Ruiz committed multiple murders, and that his actions created a “great risk of death” to others during the shooting.
Under Nevada law, proving these aggravating circumstances is required in order to seek capital punishment.
YouTuber faces death penalty after deadly Vegas shooting
Rodney Finley, better known online as ‘Finny Da Legend,’ had been filming near the iconic Bellagio Hotel when gunshots rang out on stream. In the graphic video, a man in a white hat and sunglasses approaches the couple and opens fire.
Ruiz allegedly posted a video shortly before the attack where he was seen driving around Las Vegas looking for a “friend” and his “baby,” which prosecutors believe referred to the Finleys.
The couple had reportedly been locked in a bitter online feud with Ruiz in the weeks leading up to the killing. Their rivalry allegedly escalated over copyright strikes and content takedowns between their respective YouTube channels.
After the alleged shooting, Manny turned himself in and claimed he acted in self-defense, something Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson dismissed.
“I think it’s probably garbage. There’s no indication from any of the evidence at all that self-defense would be a viable defense,” he argued back in June. “No weapons were found near the victims or on the victims, and the motivation is pretty clear.”
The Clark County Coroner’s Office determined that Rodney Finley died of multiple gunshot wounds. Tanisha Finley was killed by two shots to the head.
Ruiz remains in custody and is expected to appear in court again later in August.
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