photo from cincinatti.com Rodney Hinton Jr.
On May 2, 2025, Ryan Hinton was fatally shot by an unnamed Cincinnati Officer after running from a stolen vehicle along with three other people. Body cam footage shows all four individuals flee the scene as it became barricaded by a number of police vehicles. Six seconds of harrowing footage shows Hinton running in the opposite direction of the officers, not even facing them.
Officer Teresa Theetge, who was on the scene, stated that your chances of getting shot while holding a firearm are very high. “We do not expect the officers to wait until they’re fired upon,” She stated in a press release.
Despite these morals, the WPCO department has policies that contradict these statements.
“Where the suspect poses no immediate threat of death or serious physical harm to others, the harm resulting from failing to apprehend him does not justify the use of deadly force to do so. If an officer uses unnecessary and/or excessive force … he could be found guilty of assault, even of culpable homicide if he kills the person he is attempting to arrest.”
Attorney Fanon Rucker from Cochran Law Firm is one of the many representing Ryan Hinton’s family.
“It ain’t about hostility or anger or hatred,” Rucker stated on the Lincoln Ware Show . “It’s about making sure the constitutional rights are protected and the policies are followed, and if they’re not, for there to be justice.”
Many of Hinton’s family members are grieving and seeking justice for what happened.
“The cop wasn’t threatened. He was running from him. What was he threatened by?” David Hambrick, a member of the Hinton family said to WLWT during a balloon release..
In a statement to WPCO 9, Hinton’s family lawyers said that they are still in the preliminary stage of evidence.
On May 3, 2025, Rodney Hinton Jr, Ryan’s father, would view the body cam footage of what happened to his son. Officer Beebe stated during a bond hearing that family members reported to have seen Hinton Jr. in distress or agitation, and were worried about him driving. Because of this, his family members decided to drive him but Hinton Jr. insisted to go back for his vehicle.
After retrieving his vehicle, Hinton Jr. allegedly struck officer Larry Henderson with his vehicle near the University of Cincinnati while Henderson was directing traffic. Henderson was a sheriff for Hamilton County, a completely separate department from the one that killed Hinton Jr.’s son a day prior. Officers on the scene reportedly saw Henderson get launched several feet into the air.
The attorneys of the Hinton family for Ryan Hinton’s case have released a statement expressing condolences for the family of the sheriff.
“On behalf of Ryan Hinton’s family, we offer our heartfelt condolences to the family and colleagues of the officer who was killed yesterday. This is an unimaginable tragedy for this community. Ryan Hinton’s family is heartbroken by this tragic turn of events and we are all devastated for the family of the officer who was killed.”
HEARING
During his first court appearance, several law enforcement officials were in attendance and filled the courtroom. During his second appearance, the room was wall to wall lined with officers. Hinton Jr. walked near the officers, approaching them and staring into their eyes.
“He’s gone forever. He’s gonna be gone forever.” He repeated to them as he was rushed into the courtroom. Whether he was referring to Henderson or Ryan Hinton is a topic of discussion among those interested in his intentions.
“I don’t think he was a cop killer, I think he was not in his right mind and I think he should be treated like any other mentally ill person that commits a crime,” Clyde Bennett, Hinton Jr.’s lawyer stated. Bennett was also seen rubbing the shoulders of and attempting to calm down his client, as he appeared visibly shaken during the hearing.
Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich stated to NBC that he would make sure to use “the full force of the law” available to him if there is proof the crime was intentional.
Hinton Jr. would also file a lawsuit against several city agencies, claiming that his Fourth, Sixth, Eighth, and Fourteenth Amendment rights were violated.
As of May 13, Hinton Jr. pled not guilty to his charges, despite new risk of the death penalty. His trial is scheduled for sometime in February of 2026.
SOURCES:
https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/both-sides-lose-questions-about-use-of-force-linger-after-officer-kills-18-year-old-ryan-hinton
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/chaos-hearing-ohio-father-accused-fatally-striking-deputy-car-son-kill-rcna205065
https://www.wlwt.com/article/history-shows-death-sentences-elusive-to-carry-out-in-ohio/64733785
https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/what-we-know-about-the-deaths-of-18-year-old-ryan-hinton-and-deputy-larry-henderson
https://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/man-accused-of-killing-hamilton-county-deputy-set-to-be-in-court-to-face-new-charges
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/father-charged-deputy-death-son-killed-rcna204602
https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/crime/2025/05/12/rodney-hinton-jr-sues-police-over-alleged-treatment-after-arrest/83581739007/