Father Whose Son Was Shot by Cincinnati Police Hits Deputy With Car, Killing Him
Context:
Rodney L. Hinton, a 38-year-old Ohio man, intentionally drove his car into a Hamilton County sheriff's deputy, killing him after his 18-year-old son, Ryan Hinton, was fatally shot by Cincinnati police the previous day. The fatal crash occurred as the deputy was directing traffic outside a University of Cincinnati graduation event. The connection between the two events was acknowledged by the Cincinnati Police Department, although there was no indication that Hinton knew the deputy. Ryan Hinton was involved in a police pursuit after being found in a stolen vehicle and was shot by officers when he allegedly had a gun in hand, though there was no evidence he fired it. The community has been left on edge by these events, with faith leaders being urged to help maintain calm as investigations continue.
Dive Deeper:
Rodney L. Hinton was arrested and charged with aggravated murder for intentionally crashing his vehicle into a sheriff's deputy following the police shooting of his son Ryan Hinton, which occurred during a pursuit involving a stolen vehicle.
Ryan Hinton, while fleeing from police officers, was shot after being seen with a gun, though he did not fire it; a firearm was recovered at the scene, along with another gun found in the stolen car.
The deputy who was killed was directing traffic at a University of Cincinnati event and was well-respected within law enforcement, though his identity has not been publicly disclosed.
Rodney Hinton and his family were shown body-camera footage of Ryan's shooting the morning of the crash, which reportedly left Hinton visibly upset and potentially motivated the fatal incident.
The community is described as being in a fragile state following these tragic events, with local authorities and faith leaders working to maintain order and encourage patience as investigations proceed.
The shooting of Ryan Hinton marked the fourth police-involved shooting in the county for the year, with previous incidents being deemed justified, while the latest case is still under review by the prosecutor's office.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine expressed his dismay over the apparent intentional act of violence, highlighting the tension and emotion surrounding the situation in the community.