An Ohio father who prosecutors say intentionally drove into and killed a sheriff’s deputy hours after watching body-camera footage of his teenage son being fatally shot by police has been convicted of murder.
Rodney Hinton Jr., 38, was found guilty of killing Hamilton County Deputy Larry Henderson Jr., a 33-year law enforcement veteran who was directing traffic near a University of Cincinnati graduation ceremony on May 2, 2025.
The verdict came Friday after a trial focused on whether the grief-stricken father deliberately targeted the uniformed deputy in retaliation for the death of his 19-year-old son, Ryan Hinton. The teenager had been fatally shot by a Cincinnati police officer the previous day.
Jurors sided with prosecutors, convicting Hinton of murder, reckless homicide and felonious assault.
Hinton could spend the rest of his life in prison. Prosecutors are seeking a sentence of 15 years to life when he returns to court for sentencing on November 16.
The case followed two deaths less than 24 hours apart, shocking Cincinnati and leaving two families devastated.
Ryan Hinton was killed on May 1, 2025, after officers investigating a stolen vehicle encountered four people who ran from police at an apartment complex.
Body-camera footage showed the teenager appearing to stumble and fall as an officer chased him on foot.
Rodney Hinton Jr., 39, faces 15 years to life in prison after being convicted of murdering a sheriff’s deputy in an apparent act of revenge following his teenage son’s fatal police shooting
Deputy Larry Henderson Jr., a 33-year law enforcement veteran who had recently retired, was killed while directing traffic near a University of Cincinnati graduation ceremony
Deputy Henderson was a retired officer who had continued to work occasionally for the department. He was monitoring traffic for a college graduation when he was killed
Authorities said Ryan dropped a handgun during the pursuit but picked it up again, leading an officer to open fire.
Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge previously said the officer believed the teenager was holding the weapon in a threatening way.
‘He felt threatened for his life. And that’s why he discharged his firearm,’ Theetge said at the time.
The officer could be heard yelling ‘gun’ before firing approximately four shots. Two bullets struck Ryan.
Police acknowledged that the shaky body-camera video did not clearly show every part of the confrontation, and there was no indication Ryan had fired the weapon.
The shooting was later ruled justified.
The following day, Ryan’s father watched footage of the fatal encounter.
Prosecutors argued that seeing the video prompted Hinton to seek revenge against law enforcement.
The fatal crash came a day after Rodney Hinton’s son, Ryan, was killed by a police officer after he ran away from cops investigating an alleged stolen vehicle
Dramatic police bodycam footage captures the pursuit of Ryan Hinton, 19, who was fatally shot by a Cincinnati officer on May 1, 2025, one day before his father killed a sheriff’s deputy
Ryan Hinton, 19, is seen fleeing past dumpsters as police pursue him during an investigation into a stolen vehicle. Officers said he picked up a dropped handgun before being fatally shot
Hours later, Deputy Henderson was directing traffic near Burnet Woods as crowds gathered for a University of Cincinnati graduation event.
The veteran deputy had recently retired from full-time service but continued working occasional assignments when needed.
It was during that traffic detail that Hinton drove his vehicle into Henderson, fatally injuring him.
Prosecutors maintained the attack was no accident, arguing Hinton recognized the deputy’s law enforcement uniform and deliberately struck him in retaliation for his son’s death.
They told jurors the evidence demonstrated that Hinton had intentionally targeted Henderson, despite the deputy having played no role in Ryan’s shooting.
Hinton’s defense attorney, Clyde Bennett, challenged that account, insisting his client had not deliberately aimed his vehicle at the officer.
Instead, Bennett argued that Hinton was experiencing acute psychotic symptoms and severe mental illness that prevented him from appreciating the wrongfulness of his actions.
The defense maintained that Hinton’s psychological condition was central to understanding what happened in the hours after he viewed the footage of his son’s death.
But jurors rejected the defense’s arguments and convicted him on all three counts.
Speaking to reporters following Friday’s verdict, Bennett said he was ‘disappointed’ and suggested the disturbing video evidence showing the crash had played a decisive role in the jury’s decision.
He announced plans to appeal within 30 days of sentencing.
Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey welcomed the jury’s decision, saying it offered a measure of closure to a police department still struggling with the loss.
‘We do believe that is an appropriate finding,’ McGuffey said. ‘Now we can come together and hug each other and tell each other, we’re here. We have some finality.’
Officers found a handgun at the scene that they believe Ryan had on him when he was killed. A second magazine was found in his jacket pocket, and another gun was located in a stolen car
Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge stood up for the officer who shot and killed Ryan Hinton, arguing that the deputy feared for his life
Prosecutors also acknowledged the lasting devastation suffered by Henderson’s loved ones.
‘His family will never truly be able to fill that void, but we hope that today’s verdict brings them some sense of justice and peace,’ they said.
The deputy’s killing had sparked outrage among law enforcement leaders immediately after the crash.
Cincinnati Fraternal Order of Police representative Ken Kober demanded the harshest possible punishment, describing the attack as one of the most disturbing incidents of his career.
‘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,’ Kober said at the time.
‘There’s no room for anything less than the death penalty and we call on Prosecutor Pillich to confirm she will seek it,’ he added.
Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson also welcomed the guilty verdict, paying tribute to Henderson’s decades of public service.
‘The senseless murder of Deputy Larry Henderson Jr. shattered a family and left a community mourning the loss of a dedicated public servant,’ Wilson said.
‘We are thankful to the jury for its verdict, which accurately reflects the evidence in this case.’
He added: ‘Deputy Henderson spent 33 years honorably serving his community in law enforcement. He died fulfilling his duty.’