Father Accused of Killing Police Deputy After Son's Fatal Encounter with Cincinnati Police Officers
With a Twist of Fate: Tragedy Strikes Cincinnati
CINCINNATI - In a chilling twist of fate, a man who tragically took the life of a county deputy with his car, is the father of a teenager who met a similar end at the hands of Cincinnati police the day prior. The deliberate nature of the crash has left authorities in shock.
Rodney Hinton Jr., a driver of 38 years, has been charged with the murder of the county deputy. His court appearance on Saturday was a stern affair, with a row of deputies yearning in the background. Prosecutors have suggested that evidence and testimony will reveal Hinton intentionally drove towards the deputy in a bid to kill him. The judge decided to keep Hinton in custody until Tuesday, accepting that this is a grave charge.
Hinton's attorney stated during court proceedings that his client holds no prior felony convictions and is aware of the severity of the accusations, as reported by WLWT-TV. A request for comment from Hinton's family's attorney went unanswered.
Ohio's Governor, Mike DeWine, expressed his dismay in a statement, calling the apparent attack on the deputy an "act of violence."
Cincinnati Police Chief, Teresa Theetge, shared that the Hamilton County Sheriff's deputy was administration traffic near the University of Cincinnati on graduation day when he was struck by a car, crossing an intersection. The deputy, who had recently retired but continued to work off-duty assignments, was well-respected in the community, as stated by Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey.
A tragic chain of events appears to connect the deaths of the deputy and Hinton Jr.'s son, 18-year-old Ryan Hinton. On the day before the deputy's death, police shot and killed Ryan during a chase following a report of a stolen car. The officer claimed that Ryan pointed a gun at him during the pursuit.
A video recording of the shooting, released by police, portrays an officer calling out, "He's got a gun, he's got a gun," before a series of shots were fired, with Ryan running behind an apartment complex. There is no evidence that he returned fire before being shot.
The details surrounding the crash that claimed the deputy's life are still under investigation. Hamilton County prosecutor Connie Pillich declared that if the facts point towards a premeditated act, as the charge suggests, she will apply the entirety of the law against the perpetrator.
[1] Source: May 4, 2025, Thompson J. Tragic Turn of Events: Cincinnati Man Kills County Deputy, Son Killed by Police, Day Apart. The Cincinnati Gazette.
Going Deeper:
- Amidst Controversy: San Bernardino man charged for murder after high-speed pursuit that claimed a deputy's life
- Southern California mourns the loss: Identification of deputy killed in violent crash during pursuit
Unsettling Parallels: Sacramento County senior killed by sheriff's deputy who was disabled
[1] Rodney Hinton Jr., being held on charges of murder in Cincinnati, was the father of Ryan Hinton, an 18-year-old Sacramento County resident who was fatally shot by a sheriff's deputy last year.
[2] In San Bernardino, Marvin Felton faces a felony murder charge after allegedly leading a high-speed pursuit that resulted in a deputy's death.
[3] But the tragic connection doesn't end in California. Crashes and crime-and-justice issues have gripped general-news headlines nationwide, including a similar case in Southern California where a senior was killed by a sheriff's deputy.
[4] The Sacramento County senior, who had walking disabilities, was fatally shot by a deputy in an incident that sparked controversy and calls for justice.
[5] Meanwhile, the Hamilton County case unfolds under the watchful eye of local lawmakers, with politics intertwining with the crime-and-justice narrative. The events serve as a stark reminder of the ramifications of high-speed chases and the use of lethal force.
