Rodney Hinton Jr. convicted of murder after killing Ohio deputy

An Ohio man who drove his car into a county deputy one day after his son was shot dead by police has been convicted of murder. Sentencing is set for November 16.

Ohio man convicted of murder over fatal crash targeting Hamilton County deputy

Rodney Hinton Jr. was found guilty of murder on Friday for fatally striking Hamilton County Deputy Larry Ray Henderson Jr. with his car in May 2025, CNN reports. The verdict came roughly a day after Hinton had watched police body camera footage showing a Cincinnati officer shoot and kill his 18-year-old son, Ryan Hinton.

The crash occurred while Henderson was directing traffic at a college graduation ceremony. A jury also convicted Hinton of reckless homicide and felonious assault. Henderson, who had spent decades with the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office, had retired from the department a few months before his death but was continuing to take off-duty assignments.

Insanity plea rejected

Hinton's defence rested entirely on his mental state at the time of the crash. His attorney, Clyde Bennett II, told the jury in closing arguments that Hinton was attempting to take his own life when he drove into the intersection and was in the grip of a psychotic episode. Hinton had been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and other mental illnesses.

Prosecutors countered that grief and distress did not override conscious decision-making. Although Hinton was distraught following the death of his son, they argued, he deliberately aimed his vehicle at the deputy and retained the capacity to distinguish right from wrong. Hinton had entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. Bennett said he intends to appeal the conviction.

Background to the shootings

Ryan Hinton was shot twice by a Cincinnati police officer during a chase. The officer told investigators that the suspect pointed a gun at him — a claim Cincinnati's police chief relayed publicly. Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich stated last year that a review found the officer was "legally justified in his use of force." No charges were filed against the officer.

Pillich said Ryan Hinton was carrying a fully loaded firearm and pointed it at officers when confronted.

A few hours after Rodney Hinton and family members viewed the body camera footage in May 2025, he drove into Henderson at the intersection where the deputy was working.

Victim and sentencing

Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey said the jury's verdict brought some degree of closure and helped deliver justice for Henderson. During Henderson's funeral last year, colleagues described him as a selfless public servant who regularly volunteered for the most dangerous assignments.

Hinton faces a sentence of 15 years to life in prison with the possibility of parole on the murder conviction. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for 16 November.

Source: Google News MT — Crime (en)