A devastating chain of events over two days has left two families shattered and a community reeling. On May 2, a Hamilton County sheriff’s deputy was killed after being struck by a vehicle driven by the father of a teenager fatally shot by police just one day prior.
Authorities identified the suspect as Rodney Hinton Jr., whose 18-year-old son, Ryan Hinton, was shot and killed by Cincinnati Police on May 1. Police say Rodney Hinton intentionally drove his car into the deputy near the University of Cincinnati campus, where the officer was directing traffic ahead of a commencement ceremony.
The identity of the slain deputy has not yet been released due to protections under Marsy’s Law, which aims to safeguard crime victims and their families. The officer had previously retired from the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office but continued to serve in a part-time capacity as a “special deputy.”
Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey described the deputy as “a tremendous person” who was widely respected. “We’ll need support. Please support us,” she said, visibly emotional. Tributes from fellow officers flooded social media. “This is devastating,” wrote Newtown Police Chief Tom Synan. “He was always the first to help.”
According to police, the incident involving Ryan Hinton began around 9:30 a.m. on May 1, when officers responded to a report of a stolen Kia Telluride in East Price Hill. Using GPS tracking, officers located the vehicle and found four individuals inside. When ordered to exit, Ryan Hinton fled on foot toward a wooded area while carrying a firearm, police said.
Body camera footage released by police captures an officer shouting, “He’s got a gun!” before five shots are fired. Hinton was hit in the chest and arm and later died from his injuries. Although the gun was loaded, authorities have confirmed that Hinton did not fire at officers. Police say the officer believed Hinton pointed the weapon at him.
Roughly two hours before the deadly crash on May 2, Rodney Hinton and his family viewed police body cam footage of the fatal shooting. According to the family’s attorney, Michael Wright, the viewing deeply upset Rodney. “He couldn’t finish watching the video,” Wright said. “It was very difficult for the family.”
At around 1 p.m., police say Rodney Hinton drove his vehicle onto the sidewalk near the intersection of Martin Luther King Drive and Burnet Woods, striking the deputy and crashing into a light pole. Traffic in the area was heavy due to UC’s commencement ceremony, which was scheduled to begin at 3 p.m.
The deputy was rushed to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center, where he later died. Hinton, who was also hospitalized, was listed in critical condition but is expected to survive. He has been charged with aggravated murder.
The tragedy has rocked both the law enforcement community and the city at large, raising deep emotional and legal questions as investigations continue into both the officer-involved shooting and the retaliatory crash.
