LAS VEGAS: Two people were fatally shot late Sunday night near the iconic Bellagio fountains on the Las Vegas Strip in what authorities describe as a targeted attack stemming from a social media dispute.
According to the New York Times, the suspected shooter, 41-year-old Manuel Ruiz, surrendered to police in nearby Henderson on Monday. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department said Ruiz is facing two counts of murder with a deadly weapon.
At a press briefing, Undersheriff Andrew Walsh stated that the victims and the suspect were known to each other and had been engaged in an ongoing conflict across multiple social media platforms. “This was not a random act of violence,” Walsh emphasized. “There was prior interaction and animosity between the parties involved.”
The shooting occurred around 10:40 p.m. on Las Vegas Boulevard, just outside the Bellagio Resort & Casino. Officers patrolling the area reportedly heard the gunfire and responded immediately. Upon arrival, they found two victims lying on the sidewalk with gunshot wounds. Both were pronounced dead at the scene by emergency responders.
A video of the incident, verified by Storyful and widely circulated online, captures the moment of the attack. In the footage, a man appears to speak into a camera as people stroll behind him. Suddenly, another man wearing a cap and sunglasses is seen pulling out a firearm and opening fire. A woman nearby attempts to stop him, but the gunman fires multiple rounds—at least seven shots can be heard—as onlookers scream and scatter.
Authorities have reiterated that the shooting was an isolated event and not part of a larger threat to public safety. “This appears to be a targeted confrontation, not a random shooting,” the police confirmed in an official statement.
As of Monday, no attorney had been listed for Ruiz, and the Clark County Public Defender’s Office said it was uncertain whether he had retained legal counsel. The investigation is ongoing.
