Vengeful Cincinnati Father Slaughters Innocent Cop After Son Is Shot During Armed Car Theft
A disturbing number of Americans are siding with the killer rather than the officer who lost his life.
In early May 2025, tragedy struck Cincinnati when Rodney Hinton Jr. brutally murdered retired Hamilton County Sheriff's Deputy Larry Henderson in what authorities describe as a targeted retaliation killing.
Hinton Jr. allegedly targeted Deputy Henderson after his son, eighteen-year-old Ryan Hinton, was fatally shot by Cincinnati police officers while reportedly attempting an armed car robbery. The incident sparked a national debate, with many on the Left portraying Hinton Jr. as a heroic father seeking justice for his son—while blatantly ignoring the brutal killing of an innocent police officer and conveniently painting Ryan as a law-abiding victim, not a gun wielding car thief.
To reiterate, Deputy Henderson was not involved in the shooting of Ryan Hinton. The "retaliation" murder was a senseless action undertake by Hinton Jr.—who simply sought out a convenient target to enact revenge by any means possible.
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Particularly Senseless
"We are broken hearted about the senseless loss of life for a man who dedicated a career to serving his community and to have his life ended so quickly and tragically really shocks the conscience and breaks the heart of the whole entire State of Ohio," Ohio Fraternal Order of Police President Jay McDonald told Restoration News. "It is a testament to how dangerous this job is. You would think directing traffic at a college graduation would be something where you wouldn't have to worry about being murdered."
After police showed Hinton Jr. footage of his son's death, he allegedly used his vehicle to run over Henderson, who was working a traffic detail at the University of Cincinnati. Deputy Henderson, a 57-year-old public servant with decades of law enforcement experience, died of his injuries. Prosecutors have charged Hinton Jr. with multiple counts, including aggravated murder, and are seeking the death penalty.
The situation is tragic from every angle. It’s natural for a father to be overwhelmed with emotion after learning of his son's death. But the real issue lies in the immediate assumption that police acted unlawfully and racially—and in the cynical transformation of this event into some sort of misplaced martyrdom. In the years since the rise of the BLM movement, the Left has worked relentlessly to portray law enforcement as the enemy, regardless of the circumstances of a response by law enforcement. When those narratives fuel violence or lead to devastating consequences, its advocates are nowhere to be found to take responsibility.
I love the way Rodney Hinton jr held his head up 🔥🔥 ✊ pic.twitter.com/T45pgSKNKr
— peaceful jay (@Jacintamathews2) May 4, 2025
VIDEO THREAD: The Black Panther Movement held an armed rally in front of the Hamilton County Courthouse in Cincinnati Monday afternoon to support Rodney Hinton Jr.
— Ford Fischer (@FordFischer) May 12, 2025
Hinton faces the death penalty for allegedly striking Sheriff's Deputy Larry Henderson with his car, killing him,… pic.twitter.com/wPjUKj4tYd
Send Rodney Hinton Jr some love pic.twitter.com/DzxTe5s94y
— Jersey Noah (@JerseyNoahx) May 9, 2025
"The normalization of violence against law enforcement officers is quite frankly disturbing, and the comments made on social media encouraging this kind of violence and trying to rationalize this violence is a stain on our entire country," McDonald continued.
Despite the Left's claims, the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) annual report shows that less than 0.2 percent of sworn officers engage in misconduct.
After Police arrested Hinton Jr., criminal sympathizers created multiple GoFundMe accounts to support the alleged murder. The Ohio Fraternal Order of Police immediately released a letter demanding that GoFundMe take down the fundraisers.
"[It is] absolutely outrageous, to fundraise off the assassination of a law enforcement officer. The 23,000 members of the Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio demand that GoFundMe take these appeals down immediately," said McDonald in the letter.
GoFundMe apologized for allowing the fundraisers, saying "there will be zero tolerance for this kind of behavior on our platform. Once again, Deputy Henderson and his family are in our thoughts and prayers."
On May 20, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost asked fundraising site GiveSendGo to remove pages raising money for Hinton Jr.
"We shouldn't be crowdfunding an evildoer," said Yost.
Will the Punishment Fit the Crime?
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty, asserting that Hinton Jr's actions were deliberate and calculated. Under Ohio law, the death penalty is permissible in cases where a law enforcement officer is murdered in the line of duty, particularly if the act is purposeful and retaliatory.
"The facts of this case meet the law that’s written in Ohio, that does include the death penalty," said Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich "That’s why we’re seeking it. Apparently, the grand jury agrees."
Hinton's defense attorneys argue that he was overwhelmed by trauma and psychological distress after viewing footage of his son's death. They intend to pursue an insanity defense, claiming that Hinton was not in control and could not form criminal intent.
Legal precedents such as State v. Bryan and State v. Trimble have upheld capital sentences under similar circumstances, even when the defendant was emotionally distraught.
The slaying of Deputy Henderson highlights the severe consequences associated with anti-police rhetoric—especially when data shows over 99 percent of police do not engage in malfeasance. However, the radical Left will continue to use any means necessary to convince Americans that police are the enemy—at least until Americans ostracize the politicians, public figures, and media outlets that peddle these lies.
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