Ohio father charged with killing sheriff deputy found guilty

An Ohio jury on Friday found Rodney Hinton Jr. guilty of murder in the vehicular death of Hamilton County Special Deputy Larry Henderson, who was struck and killed while directing graduation traffic in May 2025, authorities said.

The verdict against Hinton, also identified in court proceedings as Rodney L. Hinton, was delivered in Cincinnati following several days of testimony and jury deliberations that concluded in the fatal collision case.

Incident Overview

According to court testimony and prosecutors, the incident occurred in May 2025 near the University of Cincinnati campus, where Henderson was working as a special deputy directing traffic during commencement ceremonies. Just hours prior to the fatal collision, Hinton had visited a police station where investigators showed him police body camera footage depicting the fatal shooting of his 18-year-old son, Ryan Hinton, by a Cincinnati police officer during an encounter involving an allegedly stolen car.

Prosecutors established at trial that Hinton accelerated his motor vehicle toward Henderson as the deputy directed traffic. While Henderson attempted to evade the oncoming vehicle by stepping aside, Hinton steered directly into his path, causing fatal injuries upon impact. Data presented during the proceedings demonstrated that the vehicle reached highway speeds within seconds before impact, leaving the deputy unable to escape.

Timeline of Events

1. May 2025: Cincinnati police officers pursue an allegedly stolen vehicle at an apartment complex, resulting in the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Ryan Hinton after officers reported observing a firearm.
2. May 2025: Hours after the shooting incident, Rodney Hinton Jr. is called to a police station to view officer body camera footage capturing the shooting of his son.
3. May 2025: Shortly after viewing the police video, Hinton operates his vehicle near the University of Cincinnati, accelerating toward and striking Special Deputy Larry Henderson as Henderson directs traffic during a university graduation.
4. October 2026: The murder trial opens in court, during which defense counsel raises an insanity defense while the prosecution presents vehicle telemetry and expert psychological rebuttal testimony.
5. Wednesday, October 21, 2026: Jurors begin formal deliberations following closing arguments from defense attorney Clyde Bennett II and Assistant Prosecutor Kate Burroughs.
6. Friday, October 23, 2026: The jury returns a verdict finding Hinton guilty of charges including murder.
7. November 16, 2026: Formal sentencing proceedings for Hinton are scheduled to take place.

Suspect Information

Rodney Hinton Jr., also identified in official proceedings as Rodney L. Hinton, was identified as the driver in the fatal vehicular strike. During trial proceedings, defense counsel noted that Hinton had struggled with mental health challenges prior to the event, presenting an expert who testified regarding his psychological state following the death of his son.

Victim Information

The victim was identified as Larry Henderson, a Hamilton County Special Deputy. Henderson had retired from the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office approximately five months prior to the incident and was serving as a special deputy directing graduation traffic at the time of his death. He is survived by his wife, Lori Henderson, who provided testimony during the criminal trial regarding their final conversation before he reported for traffic duty.

Investigation

The investigation into the collision was conducted in conjunction with court proceedings that examined both vehicle telemetry and psychological evaluations. Investigators analyzed digital event records from Hinton's car to determine acceleration rates and throttle positioning, while also reviewing police body camera video related to the preceding shooting incident involving Hinton's son. Medical and psychological experts evaluated Hinton to assess his criminal responsibility and competency under Ohio statutory standards.

Evidence Collected

• Vehicle telemetry records establishing that the defendant's car accelerated from 0 to over 43 mph in seconds with the throttle depressed to 93.3 percent.
• Police body camera video footage documenting the Cincinnati police shooting of Ryan Hinton at an apartment complex.
• A firearm recovered by police officers at the scene of the Ryan Hinton shooting incident.
• Expert psychological testimony and evaluations regarding the defendant's sanity and ability to distinguish right from wrong at the time of the collision.

Charges Filed

• Murder: In Ohio, a murder charge involves purposely causing the death of another individual, or causing the death of another as a proximate result of committing or attempting to commit an offense of violence. The conviction carries a mandatory sentence of 15 years to life imprisonment under state law, absent additional statutory specifications or enhancements.

Court Information

The trial was held in the Court of Common Pleas in Hamilton County, Ohio, with assistant prosecutor Kate Burroughs representing the state and attorney Clyde Bennett II serving as defense counsel. Following the jury's guilty verdict on October 23, 2026, the court scheduled formal sentencing for November 16, 2026.

Statements from Authorities

Assistant Prosecutor Kate Burroughs detailed the collision during her closing arguments to the jury, stating that Henderson observed the vehicle approaching and attempted to avoid it: 'He turned his wheel the same direction that Larry moved, and the car struck Larry, throwing him, tossing him into the air, twisting him until he landed.'

Burroughs also addressed the vehicle data during proceedings, telling jurors that the car went from zero to more than 43 mph within seconds while the accelerator was pressed to 93.3 percent capacity: 'Everything that happened that day was in the driver's hands.'

Public Safety Information

Motorists are reminded to exercise heightened awareness when traveling through active traffic control zones, campus commencement routes, and temporary work areas where law enforcement officers and municipal personnel are positioned on foot. Individuals coping with severe personal trauma, grief, or acute mental health crises are encouraged to access free and confidential support services through the national Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988.

What Happens Next

Following the jury's guilty verdict, the trial court will proceed to formal sentencing on November 16, 2026. Prior to sentencing, the court may review presentence investigation reports, victim impact statements submitted by surviving family members, and statutory sentencing guidelines governing homicide convictions. Under Ohio criminal procedure, defendants retain the right to appeal conviction findings and sentencing determinations through the state appellate court system following the entry of final judgment.