In a tragic and shocking incident, a YouTube rivalry turned deadly when one content creator murdered his rival during a livestream.
The deadly confrontation, which took place outside a Las Vegas resort, involved two popular YouTubers: 44-year-old Rodney Finley (known as Finny Da Legend) and 41-year-old Manuel Ruiz (known as Sin City Manny).
The event escalated after a public feud over viewers and territory, leading to the loss of lives and exposing the darker side of online streaming conflicts.
The Feud Between the YouTubers
The rivalry between Finley and Ruiz had been simmering for a while, fueled by personal attacks and competition for online dominance. According to sources, the conflict began as both YouTubers sought control over the streaming community in Las Vegas.
Ruiz, who allegedly lost followers to Finley, began making public attacks against Finley and his wife. He also reportedly made aggressive demands about where Finley could stream, which added fuel to the fire.
Things reached a breaking point when Ruiz’s frustration with losing viewers reportedly caused him to lash out. As Ruiz lost his followers to Finley, he became increasingly bitter, even allegedly using racial slurs and attacking Finley’s wife.
Ruiz’s aggression escalated to the point where a previous altercation involved him allegedly aiming pepper spray at Finley’s wife. A friend of Finley even mentioned that they were relieved the altercation had only involved pepper spray and not something more dangerous.
The Fatal Incident
The situation reached its tragic climax when the two YouTubers met outside a Las Vegas Strip resort. According to police reports, Ruiz was approached by Finley’s wife, Tanisha, who allegedly started “dancing in his face,” which reportedly irritated Ruiz.
He claimed that Finley then reached for something in his waistband, prompting him to believe Finley was going to attack him. Fearing for his safety, Ruiz shot Finley, initially in the torso, and then again when Finley allegedly moved toward his waistband again. Ruiz also shot and killed Finley’s wife after he believed she was holding a weapon.
The murder was broadcasted during a livestream, where a mutual friend of both YouTubers reportedly witnessed the whole thing. The friend confirmed seeing Ruiz pull out a gun and hearing gunshots over the stream.
Police, who were nearby, responded quickly, but Ruiz had already fled the scene. He was later caught after his wife, Juliana Pimentel, approached officers and identified him as the shooter.
The Investigation and Arrest
After the shocking livestream incident, local authorities launched an investigation that led to Ruiz’s arrest. He faces two counts of murder, and a judge has ordered him to be held without bail.
As the investigation progressed, several other YouTubers and people close to the incident began to speak out, sharing details of the ongoing online feud that escalated into violence.
One of Finley’s friends explained how the situation had been building for two years. The friend, Derek Ware, shared that there were multiple incidents of tension between the two YouTubers, including the pepper spray incident, which was a warning sign of the violence to come.
Ruiz’s escalating frustrations, coupled with the intense competition for followers, ultimately led to this tragic loss of life.
This tragic incident highlights how online feuds and competition for attention and viewers can spiral out of control and result in devastating consequences. The case also serves as a chilling reminder of the dangers of blending online personalities with real-world aggression.
In a world where influencers and streamers are highly competitive, this situation illustrates the potential for conflict to turn into something much more harmful. The lives of both Finley and his wife were lost over a rivalry that could have been avoided, leaving behind a grieving community of followers and friends.
