A quiet college graduation turned into a scene of horror Friday as an Ohio sheriff’s deputy was allegedly run down and killed by a man whose son had been fatally shot by police just one day earlier — a chilling incident that has left the city reeling and on edge.
Authorities say the deputy, who had recently retired but remained active with the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office, was working traffic detail at the University of Cincinnati’s commencement ceremony when he was struck and killed. Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge identified the suspect as 38-year-old Rodney Hinton Jr., the father of Ryan Hinton — a young man who was shot and killed Thursday morning by a Cincinnati police officer during a stolen vehicle investigation.
The officer’s name has not yet been released, but officials say he was well-respected and had returned to duty out of a commitment to serve.
What initially appeared to be a tragic accident quickly shifted to something far more ominous. At a press conference, Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey confirmed that another officer on the scene attempted to render aid, but the deputy was later pronounced dead.
Rodney Hinton Jr. was arrested at the scene and has since been charged with aggravated murder. Prosecutors claim he deliberately stopped his vehicle, aimed, and drove into the officer with the intent to kill — a potential act of revenge that has sparked outrage and anxiety across the community.
“This horrific and intentional murder of a Hamilton County law enforcement officer is one of the worst things that I’ve ever seen in my career,” said Ken Kober, president of the Cincinnati Fraternal Order of Police. “There’s no room for anything less than the death penalty.”
The incident came just 24 hours after Ryan Hinton was killed during a chaotic confrontation in an apartment complex. Police say Ryan and three others fled from a suspected stolen car. Officers chased them on foot. Blurry bodycam footage appears to show Ryan stumbling. According to Chief Theetge, at least one of the suspects had a gun, and the officer who fired believed he was in imminent danger.
Rodney Hinton Jr. appeared in court Saturday, his expression grim. The courtroom was packed with uniformed deputies mourning their fallen colleague. His defense attorney acknowledged the gravity of the charge and confirmed that Hinton had no prior felony convictions. Still, prosecutors allege his actions were premeditated and intentional.
Judge Tyrone Yates ordered Hinton be held without bond until Tuesday, when a bond hearing will take place. For safety reasons, he will be housed in neighboring Clermont County.
Amid growing public tension and sorrow, Police Chief Theetge made a public plea: “Keep calm, take care of one another, and I assure you of transparency and a thorough, accurate investigation.”
County Prosecutor Connie Pillich echoed that sentiment, promising to pursue the full weight of the law if the evidence confirms intent.
Still, the city remains shaken. Two violent deaths — one of a young man, the other of a veteran law enforcement officer — in as many days have left Cincinnati wrestling with grief, anger, and deep unease. Residents are struggling to make sense of what increasingly appears to be a brutal chain reaction — a father’s unimaginable loss, followed by an alleged act of retaliatory violence.
As the legal process unfolds, Cincinnati stands at a crossroads — caught between sorrow, outrage, and the desperate hope for calm in the face of back-to-back tragedy.
Police played the footage at a press conference and said the interaction turned deadly in a matter of seconds.
‘The body camera is kind of jolting as the officer is running. What that leaves us with is a very blurred image, unfortunately,’ Theetge said.
The police chief added that based on interviews with the officers, the deputy who fired his gun said they saw Ryan in a ‘bladed position,’ meaning he allegedly had a weapon in his hand that faced the officer.
‘He [the officer] felt threatened for his life. And that’s why he discharged his firearm,’ Theetge added.
The officer can be heard yelling ‘gun’ before firing. Police believe the officer fired around four shots, two of which hit Ryan.
Ryan sustained injuries to his chest and side, with one bullet exiting his back and another going through his arm and into his side.
There is no indication that Ryan actually fired a gun, and police acknowledged that the body camera footage doesn’t clearly depict the chain of events that led to the teen’s death.
