A tragic chain of events in Cincinnati has left a community reeling after an Ohio man was charged with killing a sheriff’s deputy just one day after police shot and killed his teenage son.
Authorities say the incidents, though not involving the same individuals directly, are closely linked.
Rodney Hinton Jr., 38, is now in custody without bond, facing aggravated murder charges. Police say Hinton deliberately ran over a deputy with his car on Friday afternoon, just hours after viewing bodycam footage of his 18-year-old son, Ryan Hinton, being fatally shot by police. The deputy, who has not been publicly identified, was directing traffic outside a University of Cincinnati graduation ceremony when the deadly incident occurred.
According to prosecutors, Hinton lined up his car, accelerated with intention, and struck the deputy in a calculated manner. His courtroom appearance on Saturday drew a heavy presence of law enforcement officers, many of whom were visibly emotional.
The emotional weight of the incident is intensified by what happened earlier that same day. That morning, Hinton and members of his family gathered at their attorney’s office to watch police bodycam footage showing the moments leading up to Ryan Hinton’s death. The footage, shared by police, shows officers chasing the teenager while shouting that he had a gun. Gunshots soon follow. Police say a weapon was recovered at the scene and that Ryan had pointed it toward the officers, though the blurry video does not clearly show this.
Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge said officers believed the teen was armed and did not need to wait until being fired upon to act. Two other teenagers were arrested during the same incident involving the stolen vehicle investigation that led to the shooting.
After viewing part of the footage, Rodney Hinton reportedly became overwhelmed and left the lawyer’s office. His family did not hear from him again until they learned about the deputy being struck by a vehicle near the university.
The legal team representing the Hinton family expressed sorrow over the incident, calling it a devastating situation for all involved. They said Rodney Hinton was deeply shaken after seeing the video of his son’s final moments and that his reaction was one of deep emotional distress.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine condemned the attack on the deputy, calling it an “intentional act of violence” and expressing sympathy for the deputy’s family and fellow officers.
The case has stirred strong emotions across Cincinnati, with many struggling to process the back-to-back losses. Both families are now mourning, caught in a wave of grief that began with a police shooting and ended with another life lost—this time, an officer in the line of duty. The investigation into both incidents remains ongoing.