In a heartbreaking sequence of events that has left Cincinnati reeling, a father’s grief turned to violence, resulting in the death of a beloved Hamilton County sheriff’s deputy. On May 2, 2025, Rodney Hinton Jr., 38, was arrested and charged with aggravated murder after he allegedly drove his vehicle into a deputy directing traffic near the University of Cincinnati campus. The deputy, a recently retired veteran of the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, died at the scene. This tragedy unfolded just one day after Hinton’s 18-year-old son, Ryan Hinton, was fatally shot by Cincinnati police during a pursuit involving a stolen vehicle. The intertwined losses have shaken the community, raising questions about grief, retaliation, and the challenges faced by law enforcement.
The chain of events began on May 1 in East Price Hill, where Cincinnati police responded to reports of a stolen 2021 Kia Telluride parked at an apartment complex on Warsaw Avenue. Four young men, including Ryan Hinton, were inside the vehicle. When officers approached, all four fled on foot, scattering in different directions. One officer pursued Ryan, who was allegedly seen holding a semi-automatic pistol. According to Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge, Ryan tripped during the chase, and officers reported hearing a gun hit the ground. Body camera footage, shown at a press conference, captured the chaotic moments that followed. As Ryan ran between two dumpsters, an officer shouted “gun!” and fired multiple shots, striking Ryan once in the chest and once through the arm and side. Despite immediate aid, Ryan was pronounced dead at the scene. A pistol with a full magazine was found nearby, along with another magazine in his sweatshirt. However, authorities confirmed there was no evidence Ryan fired the weapon.
The blurry body camera footage has sparked debate. Chief Theetge acknowledged its lack of clarity but stated that the officer who fired reported Ryan pointing the gun at him. Cincinnati police policy prohibits deadly force against fleeing suspects unless they pose an immediate danger, and the incident, which unfolded in just six seconds, is under investigation by the department’s homicide unit. Two other suspects, Jurell Austin, 18, and Deanthony Bullocks, 19, were apprehended after the chase, while a fourth remains at large.
On May 2, hours after Ryan’s family viewed the body camera footage, Rodney Hinton Jr. drove his vehicle off Martin Luther King Jr. Drive near Burnet Woods Drive, striking a deputy who was managing traffic for the University of Cincinnati’s commencement ceremonies. The deputy, whose identity has not been released due to Ohio’s Marsy’s Law protecting victims’ rights, was a respected figure who had retired from the sheriff’s office in December 2024 but continued working special details. Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey, visibly emotional, described the deputy as deeply loved, saying, “We could fill this building with the law enforcement agencies that respect him, love him, his friends, his family.” The deputy was rushed to UC Medical Center but succumbed to his injuries. Hinton, who was critically injured in the crash, was arrested at the scene.
Michael Wright, an attorney representing the Hinton family, described Rodney as “very distraught” after watching the footage of his son’s death. Wright called the family close-knit and Ryan a “great kid, full of life,” but declined to speculate on Rodney’s intentions. Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich vowed a thorough investigation, promising to pursue justice if the evidence supports the aggravated murder charge. Governor Mike DeWine expressed outrage, calling the deputy’s death an apparent “intentional act of violence” and offering condolences to the deputy’s family and colleagues.
The law enforcement community has rallied in response. A solemn procession, involving dozens of officers from across Greater Cincinnati, escorted the deputy’s body to the Hamilton County Coroner’s Office in Blue Ash. Ken Kober, president of the Cincinnati Fraternal Order of Police, spoke of the profound impact on officers, noting the back-to-back tragedies. Mental health resources, including chaplains, have been made available to support first responders.
As investigations into both incidents continue, Chief Theetge urged the community to remain calm and allow the process to unfold transparently. The dual tragedies have left Cincinnati grappling with grief, anger, and unanswered questions about a father’s desperate act and a young man’s fatal encounter with police. For now, the city mourns the loss of a dedicated deputy and a teenager whose life ended too soon, as authorities work to uncover the full truth behind these devastating events.