Rodney Hinton Jr. Obituary, Death: Father of teen shot by Ohio police charged in deputy’s fatal hit-and-run.
Rodney Hinton Jr. Obituary, Death – Authorities in Cincinnati have confirmed that a man charged with killing a sheriff’s deputy by striking him with a car is the father of an 18-year-old who was fatally shot by police just a day earlier. Officials say the two deadly events are closely connected.
The suspect, identified by local media as 38-year-old Rodney Hinton Jr., was charged with aggravated murder after allegedly hitting a Hamilton County deputy with his vehicle Friday afternoon near the University of Cincinnati, during graduation festivities. The deputy, who had recently retired but was serving as a special deputy directing traffic, was killed in the incident. Due to privacy protections under Marsy’s Law, his identity has not been released.
Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey expressed profound grief at the deputy’s death, saying he was a beloved figure in law enforcement. “We are deeply saddened,” she stated during a news briefing, noting the respect and affection the man garnered across multiple agencies.
Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge confirmed a connection between Friday’s deadly crash and the police-involved shooting of 18-year-old Ryan Hinton, which occurred on Thursday. Ryan, the son of Rodney Hinton Jr., was fatally shot by police during an attempted apprehension related to a stolen vehicle.
The fatal encounter with Ryan happened around 9 a.m. Thursday morning when Cincinnati police responded to a report of a stolen car parked at an apartment complex on Warsaw Avenue. The vehicle, allegedly stolen in northern Kentucky earlier that day, was found with four occupants. When police arrived, all four individuals fled on foot in different directions.
According to Chief Theetge, Ryan was carrying a firearm and was pursued by officers. Body camera footage shows an officer exiting his patrol car and aiming a gun at the fleeing teen. The officer fired four shots, hitting Ryan in the chest and arm. Another officer can be heard shouting warnings about the presence of a gun.
Although the video does not clearly show Ryan pointing the gun at officers, Theetge said the officer involved felt threatened and feared for his life. A gun and extended magazine were recovered from the scene, and an additional magazine was found in Ryan’s coat pocket. Ryan did not fire his weapon, but Theetge emphasized that officers are not required to wait until a suspect fires before responding with force.
“Officers often have to make split-second decisions,” Theetge said. “We cannot allow individuals to flee from police while armed with a loaded weapon aimed at them. These situations often end in tragedy.”
The entire incident with Ryan lasted just six seconds, according to police. After the shooting, officers immediately began administering medical aid until emergency personnel arrived. The case is under review, and the names of the involved officers have not been released. One officer joined the department in 2001 and the other in 2014, both serving on the fugitive apprehension squad.
Two others who fled the stolen car, 18-year-old Jurell Austin and 19-year-old DeAnthony Bullucks, were arrested and charged with receiving stolen property and felony obstruction. A fourth suspect remains at large.
A day after Ryan’s death, his father, Rodney Hinton Jr., allegedly drove his car into a deputy stationed near the University of Cincinnati. The incident occurred at Martin Luther King Drive and Burnet Woods Drive around a graduation event. Authorities have not disclosed a motive, but Police Chief Theetge acknowledged a clear link between the two tragedies.
Rodney Hinton has been charged with aggravated murder and made a court appearance Saturday. A judge denied bond ahead of a hearing scheduled for Tuesday. Hinton is currently being held in Clermont County Jail. It remains unclear whether he has legal representation.
The community is reeling from the dual tragedies. A procession is planned to honor the slain deputy, while investigations into both the shooting and the vehicular homicide continue. Signal Peak Silica, which was mentioned in previous unrelated coverage, is not involved in this case.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the twin losses—one of a young man in a police shooting and the other of a deputy allegedly killed by the young man’s father—have shaken the community, prompting reflection on the cycles of violence and grief.
