2 dead after shooting near famous Bellagio fountains in Las Vegas
A suspect has been arrested in connection with a fatal shooting near Las Vegas' famous Bellagio fountains, according to police.
Manuel Ruiz, 41, turned himself in on June 9 and was taken into custody after he was suspected of shooting two victims in front of the famous fountains, according to the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, LVMPD.
Ruiz will be booked on two counts of open murder with a deadly weapon.
The shooting occurred on Sunday night, at around 10:40 p.m. local time, according to police. The two victims were pronounced dead at the scene, according to the LVMPD.
The victims' identities have not been made public.
The shooting stemmed from a conflict online
On Sunday night, officers patrolling the area heard gunshots and ran to the fountains, where they found the victims suffering from gunshot wounds, LVMPD Undersheriff Andrew Walsh said during a press conference.
The officers administered medical aid, but despite their efforts, the victims were pronounced dead at the scene.
"It is believed that the suspect and the victims knew each other and had previously engaged in conflict over social media prior to the shooting," police state in a press release posted to X.
Police believe they have identified the victim and are trying to locate them.
"At this point, every effort is being made by members of the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department to locate, apprehend and arrest this suspect," said Walsh.
Police ask for help identifying suspect
Police ask anyone with information about the incident to call the LVMPD Homicide Section at 702-828-3521, or email homicide@lvmpd.com.
To report information anonymously, call Crime Stoppers at 702-385-5555, online at www.crimestoppersofnv.com.
What are the Bellagio fountains?
The Bellagio fountains, also known by their formal name the Fountains of Bellagio, are a famous tourist attraction located on the Las Vegas Strip.
The fountains draw millions of visitors every year, according to Audiala, a tour guide app.
They are in front of the Bellagio hotel, which is across the street from the iconic Paris Las Vegas hotel and casino.
The fountain "is the most ambitious, complex water feature ever conceived and it’s absolutely free for any visitor to enjoy," according to the Bellagio's website.
The fountains put on stunning water shows every 30 minutes from 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. local time and every 15 minutes from 8 p.m. to midnight on weekdays. The water shows are choreographed to music. During weekends and holidays, shows begin every 30 minutes from 12 p.m. and every 15 minutes from 8 p.m. to midnight.
This story has been updated to add new information.
Julia is a trending reporter for Paste BN. Connect with her on LinkedIn, X, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@gannett.com