Rodney Hinton Case After Deputy Killed in Hamilton County

The tragic death of retired Hamilton County Sheriff’s Deputy Larry Henderson has taken a chilling turn as prosecutors announced they will seek the death penalty against Rodney Hinton Jr., the man accused of deliberately hitting and killing the respected officer. The incident, which unfolded during a routine traffic detail for a graduation ceremony, has left the community reeling and law enforcement shaken.

Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich confirmed on Thursday that a grand jury indicted Hinton on five serious charges, including two counts of aggravated murder that qualify for capital punishment under Ohio law.

“This was a devastating and intentional act,” Pillich said. “Deputy Henderson was targeted and killed simply for doing his job as a law enforcement officer.”

Deputy Killed During Traffic Duty at UC Graduation

The fatal crash occurred on Friday, May 2, around 1 p.m. near the intersection of Martin Luther King Drive and Burnet Woods Drive in Cincinnati. Deputy Henderson, 57, was directing traffic for the University of Cincinnati’s graduation ceremony when he was struck by a speeding vehicle. Witnesses say Henderson, dressed in uniform and a fluorescent safety vest, had no time to react.

Emergency crews rushed him to UC Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead from his injuries.

Police quickly identified the driver as 38-year-old Rodney Hinton Jr., the father of Ryan Hinton, the 18-year-old fatally shot by a Cincinnati police officer just one day earlier. The emotional weight of that tragedy now serves as a backdrop to the criminal charges Hinton faces.

According to Pillich, investigators believe Hinton intentionally veered into Deputy Henderson. “There were no signs of braking or swerving to avoid impact,” said CPD Detective Carl Beebe. “Instead, all evidence indicates that Mr. Hinton accelerated toward his target.”

Capital Charges and Legal Fallout

On Thursday, as mourners gathered to honor Deputy Henderson at his public visitation, Prosecutor Pillich delivered a stark legal update: Hinton has been indicted on five charges, including:

Two counts of Aggravated Murder (eligible for the death penalty)
One count of Murder
Two counts of Felonious Assault

“These charges reflect the gravity of what happened and the legal statutes that protect officers who put their lives on the line,” Pillich said. She pointed to two specific provisions of Ohio’s Revised Code: one punishes those who kill a law enforcement officer performing official duties, and the other targets suspects who specifically intend to kill police officers.

While Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey declined to offer a personal opinion on the death penalty, she emphasized law enforcement’s focus on justice and professionalism during a highly emotional time.

“I understand that tempers are high,” she said. “But I’m asking the public to allow the justice system to do its work. We owe that to Deputy Henderson and his family.”

Deputy Henderson will be laid to rest with full honors.

Rodney Hinton Case Linked to Son’s Fatal Police Shooting

Prosecutors and investigators believe the motive behind the fatal crash may stem from emotional instability in the wake of Hinton’s son’s death. During a Tuesday bond hearing, Detective Beebe testified that Hinton was visibly “upset” and “agitated” after reviewing police bodycam footage of Ryan Hinton’s fatal shooting.

Family members and officers at the CPD Criminal Investigation Section reportedly expressed concern about Hinton’s mental state. Though he left his vehicle behind and was driven away by relatives, he later returned to retrieve the car before the fatal incident.

Pillich filled in the hours before the crash: Hinton’s family took him to Findlay Market around 10:30 a.m. to calm him down and encourage him to eat. He declined food, later napped for 30 minutes at a relative’s house, and was dropped back off at the CPD office by 12:40 p.m.

Soon after, investigators say, Hinton left the parking lot and returned briefly before heading out again—this time toward the intersection where Henderson was working. Surveillance and eyewitness reports suggest Hinton waited for traffic to clear, then accelerated across lanes to strike the deputy.

“Evidence suggests this wasn’t an accident,” Pillich said. “This was targeted. This was deliberate. This was chilling.”

Mental Competency May Play Role in Death Penalty Defense

During Tuesday’s hearing, defense attorney Clyde Bennett entered a plea of not guilty on Hinton’s behalf and hinted at a strategy focused on mental competency. He indicated plans to request a psychological evaluation to determine whether Hinton was mentally fit at the time of the incident.

“You don’t know whether or not he was in his right mind at the time he encountered Deputy Henderson,” Bennett said during cross-examination. “That’s a question that needs to be answered before jumping to conclusions.”

Pillich pushed back, saying her office had received no evidence of mental illness. She insisted the charges are based on deliberate action, not diminished capacity.

“This was a very sad day for our community,” she said. “Deputy Henderson was simply doing his job, helping the community during a special event. And for that, he was targeted and killed in a cold, calculated manner.”

Whether Hinton’s mental state will become a centerpiece of the trial remains to be seen. For now, the Hamilton County Prosecutor’s Office is pursuing the most severe punishment Ohio law allows.

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