Losing a child is one of the most devastating tragedies that can happen to any parent. It’s been said that when you become a parent, your maternal/paternal instincts go into overdrive. In simplest terms, you’ll do anything to protect your child from impending danger. The pain that a parent goes through after being unable to prevent a catastrophe affecting their child is unfathomable. For Rodney Hinton Jr, this issue hits too close to home.
For those unfamiliar with Mr. Hinton Jr.’s story, it begins on May 1. On that morning, around 9:30, Cincinnati police received a call regarding a stolen vehicle. That vehicle was a 2021 Kia Telluride. Nineteen-year-old Deanthony Bullocks, 18-year-old Cynsere Grigsby, 18-year-old Jurell Austin, and 18-year-old Ryan Hinton, who is Rodney Hinton Jr’s son were in the vehicle. When police approached the vehicle that was parked in the 2500 block of Warsaw Avenue, the four teenagers fled. One of the officers claimed that the younger Hinton pointed a gun a him, causing him to fire three rounds, with one of them killing Ryan Hinton at the scene. Bullocks,and Austin were arrested and were each charged with receiving stolen property and obstructing official business in connection with the incident. Grigsby somehow managed to escape police capture.
The next day, Mr. Hinton Jr. sat with his family to watch the police bodycam footage of his son getting shot and killed by an unidentified police officer at the police station. Understandibly, Mr. Hinton Jr. was too distraught to watch the rest of the video. Hours later, according to prosecutors, Mr. Hinton Jr. drove his car at high speed towards Deputy Larry Henderson, who was directing college graduation traffic at an intersection, killing him. Deputy Henderson was 57 years old and retired last December after 30 years as a Hamilton County Sherriff’s Deputy. Mr. Henderson had only occassionally worked special events, and had absolutely no connection to the Hinton family whatsoever. Sadly, Deputy Henderson’s death is a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
First of all, condolences go out to the Hinton and Henderson families. This article isn’t about whether or not Ryan Hinton’s death was justified or not, considering he was evading police and allegedly pointed a gun at the officer. This article will focus on the actions of the elder Hinton. While his grief is understandable, he was wrong to take it out on Mr. Henderson. With that said, Mr. Hinton should be acquitted of vehicular homicide. Clyde Bennett, Mr. Hinton’s attorney, conducted an interview with Fox 19. Mr. Bennett spoke about Mr. Hinton’s history of mental illness, and how that might have played into running into Deputy Henderson with his car.
Proving Mr. Hinton Jr. was mentally ill and wasn’t in his right mind during his encounter with Deputy Henderson won’t be an easy task. And this is by no means an effort to minimize Deputy Henderson’s life. Nor is it condoning what Mr. Hinton Jr. did. There have been other high profile cases where perpetrators have taken the life of others wantonly while facing no consequences (Kyle Rittenhouse and Daniel Penny come to mind). In Mr. Hinton Jr.’s case, there could be expert testimony from a psychiatrist that could validate Mr. Hinton Jr’s mental illness, and that he wasn’t in his right mind.
If convicted, Mr. Hinton Jr. could face the death penalty. But we’re a long way from determining that as of this writing. Nevertheless, this is a story that will be worth monitoring in the coming weeks.
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