Latest news with #RyanHinton
New York Times
18-06-2025
- New York Times
Ohio Officer Won't Be Charged in Fatal Shooting of Teenager
A police officer in Cincinnati will not be charged in the fatal shooting of a teenager whose father is accused of intentionally striking and killing a sheriff's deputy with his car the day after his son's death, prosecutors said. Connie Pillich, the prosecuting attorney for Hamilton County, said at a news conference on Tuesday that the officer, whom she did not identify, was 'legally justified in his use of force' and declined to send the case to a grand jury. The teenager, Ryan Hinton, was fatally shot by a police officer who was responding to a report of a stolen vehicle on May 1. Mr. Hinton had a fully loaded gun that he pointed at officers when they confronted him, Ms. Pillich said. 'I'm confident that my decision was based on every fact available and was made with due diligence and the utmost care,' the prosecutor said. Fanon A. Rucker, a lawyer for Mr. Hinton's family, said in remarks after the news conference that the family planned to file a lawsuit. The police were investigating a report of a stolen vehicle when they found Mr. Hinton and three other people in the stolen car. When officers approached the vehicle, the four men ran. One of the officers saw Mr. Hinton fall as he ran away and heard the sound of metal hitting the pavement, Ms. Pillich said. In audio from police dash camera footage played at the news conference, another responding officer can be heard yelling, 'He's got a gun,' before shots are fired. Ms. Pillich said the officer who had fired the fatal shots told investigators that he had heard the warning about the gun and saw Mr. Hinton point a gun at him, after which the officer fired his weapon. The father, Rodney L. Hinton, 38, is accused of intentionally driving his car into a Hamilton County sheriff's deputy who was directing traffic outside a University of Cincinnati graduation event on May 2, a day after the son's death, according to the prosecutor's office, which filed charges last month. A lawyer who had been representing the family said that they had gone to the Cincinnati police chief's office earlier that day to see the body-camera footage of the confrontation and that Mr. Hinton had become visibly upset and left before the video was over. The elder Mr. Hinton pleaded not guilty last month to two counts of aggravated murder, one count of murder and two counts of felonious assault. He faces the death penalty if he is convicted of aggravated murder. Clyde Bennett, Mr. Hinton's lawyer, said that he was being held without bond at the Clermont County jail.
Associated Press
17-06-2025
- Associated Press
Cincinnati officer won't be charged in shooting death of teen who was holding a gun during a chase
CINCINNATI (AP) — A Cincinnati police officer will not be charged in the shooting death of an 18-year-old who was holding a gun and running from police who were responding to a call about a stolen car, a prosecutor said Tuesday. A day after the shooting, the teen's father struck and killed a county deputy with his car in what authorities have said was an intentional act. The father, who had watched body camera footage of the shooting just hours before the crash, has pleaded not guilty to aggravated murder in the deputy's death. Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich said a review of the May 1 shooting death of Ryan Hinton found that the officer was 'legally justified in his use of force.' Hinton had a fully loaded gun and pointed it at officers when they confronted him, Pillich said. The officer who fired told investigators that Hinton pointed the gun at him during a foot chase, Pillich said. Police released photos of a semiautomatic handgun that they said Hinton was carrying and another gun that was found in the car. One officer could be heard in body camera video released by police saying 'he's got a gun' before several shots were fired as Hinton was running behind an apartment complex. While blurred images released after the shooting did not clearly show Hinton pointing a gun, Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge said the officer told investigators that Hinton had the gun in front of him and pointed at the officer. The officer said he feared for his life, the chief said. Police and the prosecutor did not release the name of the officer. An attorney representing Hinton's family said they disagreed with the prosecutor's findings and plan to file a lawsuit. Meanwhile, authorities have accused Hinton's father, Rodney Hinton Jr., 38, of running down a deputy who was not involved in his son's shooting. Deputy Larry Ray Henderson Jr. was directing traffic near the University of Cincinnati when he was hit by a car that drove into an intersection, police said. Henderson was struck a few hours after Rodney Hinton Jr. and other family members watched police body camera footage showing the officer fatally shoot his son. Rodney Hinton Jr.'s attorney has said he is not guilty by reason of insanity.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Yahoo
Public visitation, funeral services held for Ryan Hinton, 18-year-old fatally shot by cop
Hundreds of friends and family members clad in red and black filled Living God Church Church in Avondale on May 17 for the funeral of 18-year-old Ryan Hinton. The public visitation began at 11 a.m., followed by a funeral service at noon. Members of Ryan Hinton's family attended and spoke at his service, according to Hinton's lawyers. Members of the media were not allowed inside the church and weren't given access to speak to any of Hinton's family. Who are the Hintons? What we know about man charged with killing a Hamilton County deputy Cars lined both sides of the streets, activists held signs of solidarity and volunteers from various organizations gave out water bottles and snacks while offering hugs and words of encouragement. See Hinton's obituary here. Hinton was fatally shot by a Cincinnati police officer on May 1. The police were responding to a report of a stolen car when Hinton and the other occupants fled on foot. Hinton was running with a gun in his hand, according to police. Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge said it's not clear from body camera footage, but the officer who fired the shots said in interviews that Hinton pointed the gun at him. The next day, Hinton's father, Rodney Hinton Jr., struck and killed a Hamilton County sheriff's deputy with a vehicle on Martin Luther King Drive near the entrance to Burnet Woods, according to testimony by a Cincinnati police detective. The deputy, Larry Henderson, was working traffic control for a University of Cincinnati graduation ceremony. Multiple investigations are underway. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Public visitation and funeral services held for Ryan Hinton
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Yahoo
Here's what we know about all the investigations into the death of Ryan Hinton
18-year-old Ryan Hinton was shot and killed after multiple Cincinnati police officers approached a stolen car on May 1. Hinton and three other people were in the vehicle and fled on foot as police approached, according to body camera footage of the shooting. The body camera is shaky. It is difficult, if not impossible, to tell where the gun was pointed. It is also challenging to judge the positions of all the officers in relation to where Hinton was. The whole incident took place in six seconds. More: Cincinnati police: 12 fatal shootings since 2015, no criminal charges for officers Advocates have called for transparency and a full review of the shooting, but so far, both officials and activists alike have asked the public for patience as the investigations take place. Here's what we know of all those efforts: The Cincinnati Police Department is conducting two investigations: an administrative investigation by the internal affairs section and a criminal investigation by the homicide unit. The administrative investigation is focused on whether the department's policies or procedures were violated. Police will gather all the evidence they would normally gather for any other homicide. The investigators can interview all the police officers involved. If they are being questioned as part of the criminal investigation, the officers don't have to answer questions. But they can be compelled to answer questions for the administrative investigation under threat of discipline. They will also have access to the prior records of the officers involved. The identity of the officers has not been made public. When the administrative investigation is over, the chief and other leaders at the department will determine if there have been policy or procedure violations, and if so, they can discipline officers. The homicide investigation is typically turned over to the Hamilton County Prosecutor's Office, where a decision will be made on whether any criminal charges should be filed. Fanon Rucker, one of the attorneys representing the Hinton family, called it "a little outrageous" that Cincinnati police are investigating themselves. Cincinnati's answer to the independent investigation question is usually the Citizen Complaint Authority. The CCA was established as part of the Collaborative Agreement, which was a landmark contract between the city, the police and the community. The agreement came after the fatal shooting of Timothy Thomas and days of civil unrest. The CCA is an "independent and impartial forum" for the investigation of serious interventions by police officers, according to the agency's website. The CCA has subpoena powers. That means it can compel officers to submit to interviews and answer questions. The investigators can also gather their own evidence, interview witnesses and review evidence like body camera footage. At the end of the investigation, the CCA could determine that an officer has broken the law, but usually, the agency will issue findings about whether or not policies or procedures have been violated. The CCA will publish its findings and send them to the City Manager's Office, which has administrative power over the police department. However, the CCAs' recommendations are not binding. The police and city manager do not have to follow through on them. Rucker said the CCA is lacking solid leadership at the moment and questioned the agency's ability to tackle a case of this magnitude. An interim director was appointed in March 2024, but a permanent director has not yet been named. Michael Wright and Fanon Rucker are among the lawyers at the Cochran Firm who are representing the Hinton family. They have not made any accusations against the officers involved in Hinton's death, but said they are fighting to get answers for the family. Rucker said his firm's investigation is a civil matter rather than a criminal one. Civil lawsuits never end in jail sentences. They typically end in fines or monetary settlements, and Rucker noted that the settlements in these cases can often involve changes to police policies and practices. He said that the Collaborative Agreement itself came about, in part, due to civil lawsuits filed against Cincinnati. Prior to filing a lawsuit, Rucker's access to evidence will be limited. He said his firm does hire private investigators and files public records requests. He said after a suit is filed, more documents and evidence can be accessed. The burden of proof in civil court is different. In criminal court, prosecutors must prove things "beyond a reasonable doubt," but civil court juries only need a "preponderance of evidence." Rucker said that's like the difference between 99% sure and 51%. The prosecutor's office will also likely do some of its own investigating into what happened, though the office typically collaborates closely with police. Mark Krumbein has practiced law in Cincinnati for about 40 years. He said the prosecutor's office has investigators, typically retired homicide detectives, on staff. They can seek out witnesses and review evidence themselves. But Krumbein warned that it is hard to predict how new Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich will proceed. "This is the first time they've faced something of this magnitude, so it's hard to say how they'll handle it," he said. After the investigations, it will be up to Pillich to press charges or not. She could decide on her own that nothing criminal happened, or she could take the case to a grand jury. Then a grand jury would decide whether or not to indict. Dozens of agencies across Ohio call in the Bureau of Criminal Investigation to review police shootings. Some police departments even have a standing agreement with BCI. BCI must be invited to investigate incidents. The Cincinnati Police Department has never asked the agency to investigate a fatal police shooting. The bureau cannot, by law, declare whether an officer committed a crime or committed any wrongdoing. It cannot bring charges against officers. BCI investigations are turned over to county prosecutors, who then decide if any crimes have been committed. Cincinnati's police union president Ken Kober argued that the public would be even more frustrated with a BCI investigation. "The reason that we handle this in-house is for transparency," Kober said. If BCI was investigating, Kober said body camera footage and details about the incident wouldn't be released until the state finished its investigation. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: A look at each investigation into the police shooting of Ryan Hinton
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Yahoo
Rodney Hinton Jr. stares down cops in court after allegedly avenging his son's death
A chilling and powerful face-off took place between Rodney Hinton Jr. and police in court, where he faces an aggravated murder charge for killing a deputy. Rodney Hinton Jr. is not shying away from any rising tensions with police. During a recent court appearance this week, the 38-year-old man accused of killing a Cincinnati sheriff's deputy walked past a sea of over 50 glaring cops seeking justice for their late colleague, with chin held high, eyeing each and every one of them. As previously reported by theGrio, Hinton Jr. was the father of Ryan Hinton, a young man who was fatally shot at the hands of the police. While court officials prepare to debate whether or not the father is guilty, the court of public opinion – social media– has already made up its mind. 'That man had NO prior record. He was a peaceful law-abiding citizen but they took his child,' wrote one TikTok user. Meanwhile, on X, a user shared: 'All I'm saying is this. If a cop killed my son…I'm airing out the precinct. Rodney Hinton Jr. is a saint and a hero.' 'When the system has already taken everything from you, there's nothing else you can lose. That's when true rage comes out,' another TikTok commentator shared. In addition to being empathetic to him taking matters into his own hands, social media users note that Hinton Jr.'s actions could spark a new trend in how people respond to injustice. 'Rodney Hinton Jr. is a revolutionary,' one X user wrote. 'Anytime a cop kills our loved ones, anytime a misogynist commits an act of femicide, anytime a rapist thinks they got away with assault, they can get dealt with. There's Rodney Hinton Jr.'s out there who will hold these monsters accountable.' According to law enforcement, Hinton Jr. intentionally struck Hamilton County Special Deputy Larry Henderson when driving through an intersection. Officer Henderson ultimately succumbed to his injuries in the hospital. The incident reportedly happened hours after Hinton Jr. had seen the body cam footage of a Cincinnati Police Department officer fatally shooting his 18-year old son, Ryan, the day before. At the time, the police department claimed that Ryan appeared to have pointed a gun at officers when fleeing the stop. More must-reads: Biden says he's 'not surprised' Kamala Harris didn't win, blames sexism 'Not guilty' verdicts for three officers in Tyre Nichols' case are a gut punch to Black America Former NFL player Kevin Ware Jr. sentenced to 30 years for the 2021 murder of ex-girlfriend
