Full Breakdown
Ohio Man Convicted of Murdering Deputy After Son’s Police Shooting
By Drooid · · How we work
The Verdict and Charges
A Hamilton County jury found Rodney Hinton Jr. guilty of murder, two counts of reckless homicide and two counts of felonious assault for the May 2, 2025 death of Special Deputy Larry Henderson. The jury rejected Hinton’s not-guilty-by-reason-of-insanity plea. Sentencing is set for November 16, 2026; the murder conviction carries a mandatory term of 15 years to life with parole eligibility after 15 years.
Background: Son’s Fatal Shooting and Trigger
Hours before the crash, Hinton and family members watched body-camera footage of Cincinnati police shooting his 18-year-old son, Ryan Hinton, during a stolen-vehicle investigation. Police said Ryan was armed and was shot twice; the use of force was later deemed legally justified. Hinton left the police station in his own vehicle and, according to prosecutors, deliberately drove toward Deputy Henderson, who was directing traffic for a university graduation.
Timeline of Key Events
- May 2, 2025 – Deputy Henderson is struck and killed while directing traffic near the University of Cincinnati.
- Early October 2026 – Trial opens and jurors begin deliberations.
- Late October 2026 – Jury returns a guilty verdict on murder, reckless homicide and felonious assault charges.
- November 16, 2026 – Sentencing hearing.
Legal Outcomes and Sentencing Prospects
Under Ohio law, murder carries a term of 15 years to life. Felonious assault against a peace officer is a first-degree felony with a mandatory prison term, and reckless homicide is a third-degree felony (9 to 36 months). Ohio’s allied-offenses rule merges multiple charges from the same act, so the murder conviction is expected to control the sentence, resulting in a minimum of 15 years to life.
Official Statements & Responses
Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey expressed satisfaction that “we have justice for Larry.” Assistant Prosecutor Kate Burroughs described the incident as “deliberate, aggressive, purposeful, intentional” and said Hinton “tracked” the deputy before impact.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the count of lesser-included offenses. The Guardian and NBC News note a single reckless homicide and a single felonious assault charge, while WVXU and WLWT report two counts of each. No definitive court filing list is available, leaving the precise charge count unresolved. Additionally, no body-camera video of Hinton’s immediate post-crash interview was presented at trial, a point noted by local attorney Jay Clark but not addressed in the public record.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It's clear, by the preponderance of the evidence, that he didn't understand the wrongfulness of his conduct because of acute psychotic symptoms,” — Clyde Bennett, Hinton's defense attorney
- “He recklessly killed Deputy Henderson while attempting to kill himself,” — Clyde Bennett, Hinton's defense attorney
- “I don't take this as a victory, I wanted him to be found not guilty of each and every charge,” — Clyde Bennett, Hinton's defense attorney