CINCINNATI — A Hamilton County Sheriff’s deputy was hit and killed by a car while working a traffic detail near the University Cincinnati Friday afternoon, according to our media partners WCPO-9.
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38-year-old Rodney Hinton Jr. was the driver of the car and has since been arrested on aggravated murder charges.
He is being held with no bond, according to Hamilton County Jail records.
Hinton is the father of the 18-year-old Ryan Hinton, who was shot and killed by a Cincinnati officer one day before, according to Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge.
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Theetge told WCPO-9 that the deputy was just “doing his job” directing traffic for the university’s commencement ceremony when the crash occurred.
“I knew what a tremendous, tremendous person he is and what a tremendous loss we have all suffered,” Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey said during a news conference.
“The men and women that you see here behind me all knew our deputy and he was so well-liked, and so well known, to we could fill this building with the law enforcement agencies who love and respect him and his family,” she said during a press conference.
The deputy had retired just months ago, our news partners at WCPO-9 reported.
Authorities are not releasing the deputy’s name at this time.
University of Cincinnati President Neville Pinto addressed the crash and held a moment of silence in honor of the deputy at the commencement.
During a press conference Friday morning, Theetge told WCPO-9 that an officer shot and killed Ryan Hinton in East Price Hill after he jumped out of an alleged stolen car and ran away.
Ryan was one of four people who ran from the car.
Body camera video and images from the scene show Ryan fall before he got up and continued running.
Theetge said police said they saw Ryan carrying a firearm and heard it hit the ground when he fell, but that is not seen or heard on the body camera footage, WCPO-9 reported.
After Ryan ran in between two dumpsters, a Cincinnati police officer on the other side took out their gun and fired it.
One officer told the officer who fired their weapon that Ryan had a gun, Theetge said.
Body camera video captures one officer yelling “gun” before several gunshots are heard. Ryan was pronounced dead on scene.
A gun with an extended magazine attached was found where he was shot and another magazine was found in his sweatshirt pocket, according to WCPO-9.
Theetge said there is no evidence showing that Ryan fired the gun at all.
The Cincinnati Police Department’s Homicide Unit is investigating the deputy’s death and Ryan Hinton’s death.
Anyone with information about the crash that killed the deputy is asked to called 513-352-3542.
“This community, our city and our county, has had two critical incidents in two days,” Theetge told WCPO-9. “I do have a plea to everybody: Let the processes play out, let the investigations play out. Keep calm, take care of one another and I can assure you as the chief of police for Cincinnati, I will assure you of transparency and a thorough and accurate investigation.”
We will continue to follow this story.
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