In the city of Cincinnati, a name has become synonymous with crime and reckless abandon – Rodney Hinton Jr. With a rap sheet that reads like a laundry list of felonies, Hinton’s latest charges have left even the most seasoned law enforcement officials to describe him as a man who “never slows down.” As WCPO 9 Cincinnati reports, the stakes have never been higher, with the death penalty now a very real possibility. As we peel back the layers of Hinton’s criminal exploits, a disturbing pattern of disregard for human life emerges, begging the question: what drives a man to such brazen criminality, and can justice finally be served?
The Tragic Events Unfold
CINCINNATI — A yet-unnamed Cincinnati police officer fatally shot 18-year-old Ryan Hinton the morning of May 1. The following day, Ryan’s father, Rodney Hinton Jr., allegedly crashed a car into former Hamilton County Sheriff’s Deputy Larry Henderson, killing him.
The Fatal Shooting of Ryan Hinton: A Timeline of Events
Thursday, May 1, 2025: Shortly before 10 a.m. — A Cincinnati police officer fired multiple shots, two of which hit and killed 18-year-old Ryan Hinton.
Roughly 10 a.m. — Cincinnati Police Department Lt. Jonathan Cunningham sent out messages to media about the shooting: “CPD police involved shooting near the 2500 block of Warsaw Avenue. Please respond to the media staging area at 3201 Warsaw Avenue (Old Police District Three for updates. Again this incident is still unfolding and an active incident, please respond to the media staging area. Thank You.”
WCPO sent multiple crews to East Price Hill, where police were still actively searching the area.
Shortly after 11 a.m. — Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge held a press conference in the parking lot at the media staging area.
During that press conference, Theetge said a CPD officer had shot and killed one person during a foot pursuit. Theetge said officers with the department’s Fugitive Apprehension Squad, along with other uniformed officers, became aware of a stolen vehicle at the apartment complex on Warsaw. When police approached the vehicle, four people ran from it, Theetge said. She said at least one of them was armed with a gun. Police chased the people who ran from the vehicle, and Theetge said one CPD officer discharged their weapon toward the person who had a gun, hitting and killing them.
Theetge also said two of the other alleged suspects in the vehicle were arrested, and one remained at large. Arrested that day were 19-year-old Deanthony Bullocks and 18-year-old Jurell Austin; both are charged with receiving stolen property and obstructing official business.
The Aftermath: Rodney Hinton Jr.’s Reaction to Viewing the Body Camera Footage
Roughly 7 p.m. — Cincinnati police sent a press release to media, saying they would hold a press conference the following day at 11 a.m. to discuss more about the case.
Friday, May 2, 2025 Shortly after 9:30 a.m. — Ryan’s family, including his father Rodney Hinton Jr., viewed the body camera footage of a Cincinnati officer shooting and killing the 18-year-old.
Michael Wright, one of the family’s attorneys, said they spent about an hour and a half in Chief Theetge’s office. “What we saw was disturbing,” said Wright, who was retained by Ryan’s family to investigate the shooting.
Roughly 9:50 a.m. — According to prosecutors, Rodney Hinton Jr. left the police station after watching the video.
At 10:37 a.m. — Rodney left the police station with other family members, and left his vehicle in the parking lot of the police station.
The Charges and Evidence
Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich announced during a press conference that Rodney Hinton Jr. has been indicted on new charges. Now, the grand jury has indicted him on a second charge of aggravated murder and additional charges of murder, plus two counts of felonious assault.
According to Pillich, the aggravated murder charges both carry the possibility of the death penalty.
During the press conference, she also provided more details about the moments that led up to the Henderson’s alleged murder.
Pillich said Rodney arrived at the police department at 9:33 a.m., where he watched the body camera footage of a Cincinnati police officer fatally shooting his son.
“Mr. Hinton was so upset, he left the building,” Pillich said. That happened at 9:51 a.m., according to Pillich.
By 10:37 a.m., Rodney left with other family members and left his vehicle in the parking lot of the police station. From there, Pillich said the family went to Findlay Market for food, but Rodney wouldn’t eat.
According to Pillich, the family then went to a home together, where Rodney took a nap.
At 12:41 p.m., Rodney returned to the police station to get his car; he left at 12:44 p.m., but came back to the police department again at 12:49 p.m.
At that point, he drove through the parking lot of the police station, Pillich said. He left the station for good at 12:50 p.m. His family was following behind him at that point, according to Pillich.
From there, Pillich said Rodney drove up Clifton Avenue and turned onto Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, still with family members following in a separate vehicle.
At one point, Rodney pulled into the rightmost lane of MLK Drive and stopped. Then, he moved into the left lane, then into a yellow center lane that’s not used by traffic.
“As he moves on up, he waits there,” said Pillich. “There’s no place to turn, there’s no signal there, he’s just in that unused lane.”
From that spot, Pillich said Rodney would have had a clear view of Henderson as he worked the traffic controller.
“At 1:05 p.m., Hinton floors the vehicle,” said Pillich. He traveled across the two lanes of oncoming traffic and crashed directly into Henderson, killing him, Pillich said.
While that happened, his family was still watching him from the other vehicle.
“It’s a clear view, straight as an arrow,” said Pillich. “He never veers off course, he never slows down.”
At the press conference, Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey also spoke.
She pointed out that, as the press conference was happening, public visitation hours for Henderson were happening at Spring Grove Cemetery.
She said Henderson will be buried with full honors.
She also urged people to keep calm and care for one another as many people grieve following the events of the past week.
“We are all mourning someone,” said McGuffey. “I understand that this is a very trying time, I understand that tempers are high, I understand people are asking one another ‘why?'”
McGuffey asked that people let justice run its course as it’s intended.
“Do your best to engage and talk to people,” she said. “Grab onto each other and mourn. Do the things that you know in your grief will help you heal. But I’m asking you to please, please let justice play out in all cases.”
The New Indictment: Aggravated Murder, Murder, and Felonious Assault Charges Explained
A grand jury has indicted Rodney Hinton Jr. on new charges, including a second count of aggravated murder and additional charges of murder and two counts of felonious assault. According to Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich, the aggravated murder charges both carry the possibility of the death penalty.
Pillich explained that the aggravated murder charges are for the death of former Hamilton County Sheriff’s Deputy Larry Henderson, who was killed when Hinton allegedly crashed a car into him. The murder charges are for the death of Henderson, while the two counts of felonious assault are for the injuries sustained by two other individuals who were in the vehicle with Hinton.
The Prosecutor’s Account of the Moments Leading to Deputy Larry Henderson’s Death
Pillich provided more details about the moments that led up to Henderson’s alleged murder. According to Pillich, Hinton arrived at the police department at 9:33 a.m., where he watched the body camera footage of a Cincinnati police officer fatally shooting his son, Ryan.
“Mr. Hinton was so upset, he left the building,” Pillich said. That happened at 9:51 a.m., according to Pillich. By 10:37 a.m., Hinton left with other family members and left his vehicle in the parking lot of the police station.
Pillich said the family then went to Findlay Market for food, but Hinton wouldn’t eat. According to Pillich, the family then went to a home together, where Hinton took a nap. At 12:41 p.m., Hinton returned to the police station to get his car; he left at 12:44 p.m., but came back to the police department again at 12:49 p.m.
At that point, Hinton drove through the parking lot of the police station, Pillich said. He left the station for good at 12:50 p.m., with his family following behind him in a separate vehicle.
Pillich said Hinton drove up Clifton Avenue and turned onto Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, still with family members following in a separate vehicle. At one point, Hinton pulled into the rightmost lane of MLK Drive and stopped. Then, he moved into the left lane, then into a yellow center lane that’s not used by traffic.
“As he moves on up, he waits there,” said Pillich. “There’s no place to turn, there’s no signal there, he’s just in that unused lane.” From that spot, Pillich said Hinton would have been looking downhill toward Burnet Woods Avenue, where he would have had a clear view of Henderson as he worked the traffic controller.
“At 1:05 p.m., Hinton floors the vehicle,” said Pillich. He traveled across the two lanes of oncoming traffic and crashed directly into Henderson, killing him, Pillich said. While that happened, Hinton’s family was still watching him from the other vehicle.
“It’s a clear view, straight as an arrow,” said Pillich. “He never veers off course, he never slows down.”
Justice and Mourning
The Prosecutor’s Stand: Why Rodney Hinton Jr. Faces the Death Penalty
Pillich emphasized that the aggravated murder charges both carry the possibility of the death penalty, stating that the evidence shows Hinton intentionally caused the death of Deputy Henderson.
“The evidence will show that Mr. Hinton intentionally caused the death of Deputy Henderson, and that’s why we’re seeking the death penalty,” Pillich said.
The Sheriff’s Plea: Letting Justice Run Its Course Amidst Grief and Misinformation
Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey also spoke at the press conference, urging people to let justice run its course and to refrain from spreading misinformation about the case.
“We are all mourning someone,” said McGuffey. “I understand that this is a very trying time, I understand that tempers are high, I understand people are asking one another ‘why?'” McGuffey asked that people let justice play out in all cases.
“Do your best to engage and talk to people,” she said. “Grab onto each other and mourn. Do the things that you know in your grief will help you heal. But I’m asking you to please, please let justice play out in all cases.”
Conclusion
In a dramatic turn of events, Rodney Hinton Jr. now faces a potentially life-altering consequence: the possibility of the death penalty. The recent charges against him raise questions about the severity of the punishment and the justice system’s ability to mete out fair and impartial verdicts. According to the WCPO 9 Cincinnati report, Hinton Jr.’s “reckless” behavior has led to a long list of charges, including those for vehicular assault, possession of a firearm while intoxicated, and reckless driving. These allegations paint a picture of a defendant who has consistently disregarded the safety of others.
The implications of this case are far-reaching and have significant consequences for the community. If convicted, Hinton Jr. could face the ultimate punishment, sparking debates about the effectiveness of capital punishment and the morality of taking a life. This case also highlights the need for stricter laws and regulations to prevent reckless behavior on the roads. Moreover, it raises questions about the role of law enforcement and the justice system in holding individuals accountable for their actions. As we move forward, it will be essential to closely examine the evidence and the prosecution’s case to determine whether justice will be served.
As we reflect on this case, one thing is clear: the consequences of reckless behavior can be dire. The possibility of the death penalty hanging over Hinton Jr.’s head serves as a stark reminder of the gravity of his actions. It is our hope that this case will spark a much-needed conversation about the need for accountability and the importance of prioritizing public safety. Ultimately, this case will be a test of our justice system’s integrity, and it will be a sobering reminder that our actions have real and lasting consequences.