No Charges Filed in Ryan Hinton Shooting: Prosecutor Says Officer Acted Legally, Family Vows to Seek Justice

Father charged with murder in separate deputy’s death; community awaits press conference amid growing outrage

CINCINNATI, OH — June 17, 2025 — In a decision that has stirred intense debate and deepened community tensions, Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich announced Tuesday that the police officer who fatally shot 24-year-old Ryan Hinton during a foot chase in East Price Hill on May 1 will not be criminally charged. Pillich said the officer acted in accordance with Ohio law when he opened fire, claiming that Hinton had pointed a loaded gun at him in a split-second confrontation.

“This was a lawful use of force under the circumstances,” Pillich stated. “The officer believed his life and the lives of others were in immediate danger.” She added that investigators recovered two firearms — one found on Hinton and another inside the stolen vehicle he had allegedly been driving.

The officer’s identity is being withheld under Marsy’s Law, which allows crime victims, including law enforcement officers, to keep their identities confidential. The officer has not returned to duty but remains on administrative leave while internal reviews continue.

Shooting Followed Stolen Vehicle Pursuit

The incident began when Cincinnati Police officers attempted to stop a stolen car near Elberon Avenue in East Price Hill. Hinton fled the vehicle on foot, leading to a chase through nearby streets and yards. According to Pillich, during the pursuit, Hinton pulled a loaded firearm and aimed it at the officer, prompting the officer to fire multiple shots, killing Hinton at the scene.

Officials declined to release body camera footage publicly, citing the ongoing investigation and the privacy protections afforded by Marsy’s Law. However, Pillich said all available evidence, including forensic reports and witness statements, supported the decision not to file charges or present the case to a grand jury.

Father Charged in Deadly Crash the Next Day

Just one day after Ryan’s death, his father, Rodney Hinton Jr., was involved in a fatal incident that claimed the life of Hamilton County Sheriff’s Deputy Larry Henderson. Authorities say Rodney Hinton intentionally drove a car into the deputy near the University of Cincinnati campus. Deputy Henderson later died from his injuries.

Rodney Hinton has since been charged with:

• Two counts of aggravated murder
• One count of murder
• Two counts of felonious assault

He has pleaded not guilty and is currently being held in the Hamilton County Justice Center. His trial has been scheduled for January 12, 2026. Public defenders have not commented, though sources close to the family say Rodney was “emotionally shattered” by his son’s sudden and violent death.

Deputy Henderson, a respected 17-year veteran of the Sheriff’s Office, was honored at a memorial service attended by hundreds, including state and local officials. He was remembered as a mentor, father, and dedicated public servant.

Family and Community Demand Answers

The Hinton family has expressed strong dissatisfaction with the prosecutor’s decision and plans to speak at a press conference later this afternoon. They are expected to be joined by attorneys and community advocates who argue that the investigation lacked transparency and accountability.

“Ryan was a young man who didn’t deserve to die in the street like that,” said a statement from the family released early Wednesday. “We were not given the full story. We were not shown the evidence. And now they’re closing the door without ever bringing this before a grand jury. We have questions, and we won’t stop until we get justice.”

Civil rights organizations, including the local NAACP and Black Lives Matter Cincinnati, are calling for an independent review of the shooting and the broader use-of-force policies within the Cincinnati Police Department. Community members have also begun organizing vigils and rallies in support of the Hinton family and to call attention to what they describe as a lack of oversight in officer-involved shootings.

Prosecutor Defends Decision, Urges Calm

Prosecutor Pillich acknowledged the pain the situation has caused but stood by her decision not to pursue charges. “Every officer-involved shooting demands scrutiny, and this one received it. But at the end of the day, our responsibility is to apply the law to the facts as they are — not as we wish them to be,” she said.

Pillich’s office emphasized that the officer’s split-second decision was made in a high-risk encounter involving a suspect armed with a deadly weapon. “Had the officer hesitated, it might have been his name in the obituary,” one official said privately.

Still, the decision has done little to calm an increasingly angry public. Dozens have taken to social media to express their frustration, using hashtags like #JusticeForRyan and #SayHisName, demanding the release of body cam footage and an independent inquiry.

What Comes Next

Legal analysts expect the Hinton family may pursue a civil lawsuit against the city and police department, arguing wrongful death and a lack of due process. Whether that suit materializes remains to be seen, but the growing unrest in East Price Hill and surrounding neighborhoods signals that the public conversation surrounding Ryan Hinton’s death is far from over.

In the meantime, city leaders are urging patience and peaceful protest while the full scope of both cases — Ryan’s death and Rodney’s criminal charges — continues to unfold.