Posted 5/23/2025

18-year-old Ryan Hinton was fatally shot by Cincinnati police on May 1, 2025. The police department alleges that Hinton pointed a gun at an officer while fleeing a stolen vehicle. The entire incident was captured on bodycam. Viewing the video, it is unclear if Hinton pointed a gun at the officer. However, another officer on the scene stated that the teenager dropped a gun, stopped to pick it up, and continued running; this account was corroborated by video evidence. While we cannot speculate on the shooting officer's mindset, the warning about a firearm and the possibility of it being in the suspect's bag could understandably make anyone in that situation feel uncomfortable. Hinton had just exited a stolen vehicle as well. After reviewing the video several times, Hinton appeared to be shot from behind. The officer discharged his weapon at least four times, striking Hinton three times. The Department of Justice says that 'deadly force may not be used solely to prevent the escape of a fleeing suspect.' The Hamilton County coroner released a preliminary autopsy report ruling Hinton's death a homicide. 

It used to be that when someone was shot in the back, it was outright murder, but tell that to Rayshard Brooks, a 27-year-old Black man fatally shot by police in Atlanta on June 12, 2020. Brooks' family was later awarded damages of one million dollars. On March 31, 2021, Anthony Alvarez was shot in the back by police in Chicago. Alvarez was in possession of a firearm at the time of the shooting. The officer that shot him, Evan Solano, has at least 4 complaints and 17 use-of-force reports... Click Here.

The Cincinnati Police Department still has not released the name of the officer who killed Hinton, citing Marsy's Law as the reason for their decision. Marsy's Law doesn't seem applicable because it's intended for victims. Police say that they did recover a firearm from the scene. In the aftermath of Ryan Hinton's death, Hinton's father, Rodney, allegedly retaliated by ramming his car into retired Hamilton County Deputy Larry Henderson. Henderson was working traffic duty and was not involved in the shooting of Ryan Hinton. Rodney Hinton was charged with aggravated murder, and prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.