Ohio Man Convicted of Murder After Fatal Collision With Sheriff’s Deputy

POLICY WIRE — Cincinnati, Ohio — A jury delivered a guilty verdict on Friday against Rodney L. Hinton, an Ohio man accused of intentionally striking and killing a sheriff’s deputy with his vehicle.

The conviction follows a trial that examined the events of May 2025, which occurred just hours after Hinton viewed body camera footage showing the fatal police shooting of his 18-year-old son, Ryan Hinton.

The incident involving the younger Hinton began when police responded to reports of a stolen vehicle at an apartment complex. Authorities stated that Ryan Hinton fled the scene, leading to a pursuit where an officer fired at least four shots after shouting that the suspect was armed.

Hamilton County Special Deputy Larry Henderson, who had retired from the sheriff’s office five months prior, was directing traffic near the University of Cincinnati during graduation ceremonies when he was struck. Prosecutors argued that Hinton accelerated his vehicle to over 43 mph, pressing the accelerator to 93.3% capacity, and deliberately steered toward the deputy.

Assistant Prosecutor Kate Burroughs told the jury that Hinton tracked the deputy as he attempted to move out of the way, ultimately tossing him into the air. During closing arguments, defense attorney Clyde Bennett II contended that Hinton suffered from mental health struggles and requested a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity.

While a defense expert testified that Hinton could not distinguish right from wrong during the crash, the state’s rebuttal witness maintained that the defendant was aware of his actions despite his grief and anger. The trial also featured emotional testimony from Lori Henderson, who recounted her final conversation with her husband before he left for his shift.

Deliberations concluded on Friday following several days of testimony. Hinton is currently awaiting his sentencing, which is scheduled for November 16.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)