A man who hit and killed a county deputy with his car on Friday is the father of a teen who was shot and killed by a Cincinnati police officer the day before, police said. Authorities stated that the crash appeared to be intentional.
Rodney Hinton Jr., 38, the driver of the car, has been charged with aggravated murder in connection with the deputy’s death, according to police.
Hinton appeared in court on Saturday, with a wall of deputies at the back of the room. A prosecutor stated that evidence and witnesses will show that Hinton drove directly at the deputy in an attempt to kill him. A judge ordered Hinton to be held until another hearing on Tuesday.
According to WLWT-TV, Hilton’s attorney stated in court that he has no prior felonies and understands the serious nature of the charge.
A message seeking comment was left with an attorney for Hinton’s family.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine stated that he was “sickened by what appears to be an intentional act of violence.”
According to Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge, the Hamilton County Sheriff’s deputy was directing traffic near the University of Cincinnati on graduation day when he was struck by a car that entered an intersection.
Authorities did not identify the deputy, who had retired from the department a few months ago but was still working off-duty assignments, according to Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey.
“He was so well-liked and well-known,” McGuffey said. “What a tremendous loss we have all suffered.”
Authorities said the circumstances of the crash were still being investigated.
“If the facts show this act was intentional, as the charge suggests, I will throw the full force of the law at the perpetrator,” Hamilton County prosecutor Connie Pillich said in a statement Friday.
Ryan Hinton, Hinton’s 18-year-old son, was shot twice and killed by police on Thursday during a chase after officers responded to a stolen car call, according to police.
The officer who fired told investigators that the suspect pointed a gun at him during the chase, according to Cincinnati’s police chief.
Police released body camera video of the shooting on Friday, showing one officer saying “he’s got a gun, he’s got a gun” before firing several shots at Ryan Hinton as he ran behind an apartment complex.
According to Theetge, there was no indication that he fired at police before being shot.
