by Sharelle B. McNair
June 19, 2025
‘How are you going to be threatened by somebody working from you?’
Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich mentioned the officer who shot and killed Ryan Hinton was “legally justified” in his actions, thus dodging fees from a grand jury, the Cincinnati Enquirer studies.
Throughout a June 17 press convention, Pillich mentioned the unnamed Cincinnati police officer had the best to shoot Hinton, 18, who was armed with a Glock .40 caliber handgun with an prolonged journal. The prosecutor mentioned the officer believed Hinton pointed the weapon at him, ensuing within the deadly Could 1 capturing.
Hinton was a suspect in a report of a stolen car, inflicting him and three others to flee the scene after being approached by “Officer A.” Pillich mentioned the officer had no alternative however to make a fast alternative.
“When Ryan Hinton was confronted by officers a couple of stolen automobile, he not solely had a gun, with a totally loaded journal and a bullet within the chamber, however he pointed it at Officer A,” Pillich mentioned in a press release. “Officer A made a split-second choice that possible saved his life and the lives of different officers.”
In response to NBC Information, physique digicam footage confirmed an officer exiting his squad automobile and approaching Hinton, along with his gun pointed at him. The responding officer fired his weapon not less than 4 occasions, with the sufferer being hit with not less than two bullets. A second officer was heard within the video saying: “He’s received a gun! He’s received a gun in your proper! In your proper!”
The officer mentioned he heard one other officer warn a couple of gun and fired his weapon, claiming he noticed the sufferer level his weapon at him. Nonetheless, reviewed physique digicam footage revealed it was unclear whether or not Hinton pointed a gun at officers.
“He mentioned, ‘I assumed I higher get my gun out and shoot him earlier than he shoots me, and I fired earlier than he may fireplace on me,’” the prosecutor mentioned. “It was cheap in his worry of hurt. This capturing was justified. Cops are sometimes pressured to make split-second choices in circumstances which can be tense, unsure, and quickly evolving.”
Whereas Officer A escaped fees, the case took an much more tragic flip the subsequent day. Hinton’s father, Rodney Hinton Jr., was arrested and charged after allegedly fatally hanging Hamilton County sheriff’s deputy Larry Henderson along with his car as he labored a site visitors element close to the College of Cincinnati.
Police declare the 2 deaths are linked, because the day previous to Henderson’s demise, Rodney Hinton Jr. met with Cincinnati police to look at the physique digicam video of his son’s capturing and left the assembly distraught.
Rodney Hinton Jr. pleaded not responsible to aggravated homicide fees.
Following Pillich’s press convention, the Hinton household spoke out in opposition to the prosecutor’s choice to not cost the officer. “How are you going to be threatened by somebody working from you?” Ryan Hinton’s cousin, Marlyn Howard, mentioned. “We miss you. We love you down right here.”
Lawyer Fanon Rucker says the household plans to file a civil lawsuit.
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