Rodney Hinton Jr. convicted of murder in death of Ohio deputy

A Hamilton County jury has convicted Rodney Hinton Jr. of murder, reckless homicide, and felonious assault for the May 2025 death of retired Deputy Larry Ray Henderson Jr. The fatal incident occurred while Henderson was working an off-duty assignment directing traffic near a University of Cincinnati graduation ceremony.

The conviction follows a trial that centered on Hinton’s mental state. His defense team argued he was not guilty by reason of insanity, claiming he was experiencing a psychotic episode and acute bereavement. They noted Hinton had a history of mental illness, including schizoaffective disorder. However, prosecutors argued that while Hinton was grieving, he deliberately tracked the deputy and aimed his vehicle at him.

The crash took place only hours after Hinton viewed police body-camera footage showing the fatal shooting of his 18-year-old son, Ryan Hinton, by Cincinnati police. The shooting of Ryan occurred during a pursuit involving an allegedly stolen vehicle; authorities previously determined the officer involved acted legally.

Hinton faces a sentence of 15 years to life in prison. Sentencing is scheduled for November 16.