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On June 8, 2025, Metropolitan Police Officers who were patrolling around Bellagio on Las Vegas Boulevard heard gunshots erupt at around 10:40 P.M. The officers immediately ran towards the sound of the gunfire and discovered two victims suffering from gunshot wounds.
Reports show that the officers attempted to provide medical aid to both victims, but they were both declared deceased a short time after the police arrived on scene.
Investigators quickly learned that video of the shooting incident had gone viral online. In the video, a woman can be seen confronting a man who was walking down the sidewalk. The woman begins to confront the man, but he pulls out a handgun and fires at someone else. The woman starts screaming and the video ends.
While it is still unconfirmed, witnesses suggested that both the shooter and victim were YouTubers. Many witnesses believe the two content creators had an online feud that spilled over into physical violence. A different YouTuber was also livestreaming the scene when gunfire erupted, but that content creator took down their video once it started gaining traction online.
On June 9th, one day after the shooting, a 41-year-old man walked directly into the Henderson Police station and made a shocking confession. He admitted to the killing and identified himself as Manuel Ruiz.
Ruiz has been taken into custody and booked into the Clark County Detention Center. He is currently facing two counts of open murder with a deadly weapon. The victim’s identities will be released by the Clark County Coroner’s Office in the coming days.
In Nevada, individuals who are accused of killing someone else are often initially charged with “open murder” when the circumstances aren’t clear. This classification isn’t exactly a criminal charge. Instead, it’s a flexible placeholder. Once more details emerge from the investigation, prosecutors will decide which type of murder charge is most appropriate.
Typically, first-degree murder charges are only levied when the killing was intentional and premeditated. Generally, these charges indicate malice was a factor, too. This crime carries the most severe charge of a lifetime behind bars.
Second-degree murder charges indicate an intentional slaying that happened without any premeditation. This crime can still lead to life in prison.
Voluntary manslaughter is levied when the killing was intentional, but there are mitigating factors that reduce the severity of the crime. Involuntary manslaughter is a charge that’s most appropriate when an unintentional killing happens as a result of negligence or recklessness.
All that said, if you get hit with an open murder charge, then your situation is extremely complicated. It’s best to hire an attorney to help you determine your best possible defense strategy. Depending on your situation, you may need to preemptively prepare a defense strategy for each of these charges to maximize your success in court.
If you’re in the Las Vegas area, then schedule a free case review with our team now to discuss the specifics of your situation with our legal team.
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