Vice President JD Vance commented on the deaths of Ryan Hinton and Deputy Larry Henderson during a National Police Week breakfast hosted by the VP.
The Wednesday event was attended by state and local law enforcement officers. Vance brought up the waterfalling events of Ryan Hinton’s shooting death from by a CPD officer, which was followed by Rodney Hinton Jr. allegedly running over and killing retired Hamilton County deputy Larry Henderson.
In a speech made before the attendees of the National Police Week breakfast, Vance said the story of Henderson’s death is “worth telling in full because it’s worth appreciating exactly what happened.”
“I actually first heard about this from — from my wife, our lovely second lady, who — who told me that, you know, a few weeks ago, I guess, a man was killed by a police officer,” Vance said in reference to the shooting death of 18-year-old Ryan Hinton. “The police officer, the body cam footage showed, was totally justified. He was doing his job and keeping the people of Cincinnati safe.”
The bilateral investigation into Ryan Hinton’s death is still ongoing. Body camera footage from the shooting shows the split-second decision of the unnamed officer to fire five shots at Ryan Hinton, striking him twice, according to CPD: once through the chest and once through the arm and into his side. CPD Chief Teresa Theetge said the officer fired his weapon when he saw the suspect point his gun at him, but this is difficult to see in the shaky body camera video.
Vance then commented on the alleged actions of Ryan Hinton’s father, Rodney Hinton Jr., after he witnessed the body camera footage of his son’s death.
“And the gentleman who was killed, his father started to hate police because of it,” Vance said of Rodney Hinton Jr. “And maybe he already hated police before then, but he decided he wanted to take revenge on police — not even on the officer who took the life of his son, but on a totally different police officer, just to exact revenge against the police in that area of the country, which, of course, is my hometown.”
Vance goes on to refer to Hinton Jr. as a “bloodthirsty criminal.”
“And what happened is a police officer who had just actually retired but returned to special duty in the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department, he was helping people at the University of Cincinnati when he was mowed down by a bloodthirsty criminal, who exacted revenge for something a police officer was actually legally entitled to do,” Vance said.
Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Hinton Jr. for his role in the death of Deputy Henderson. Hinton’s attorney, Clyde Bennett, pleaded “not guilty” for his client and indicated he will be filing for a mental competency hearing for Hinton in the near future; Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich said on Thursday her office has received no evidence about mental health issues.
During his speech, Vance laid blame on unnamed American leaders for Henderson’s death.
“When I think about why that senseless crime happened, obviously, you’ve got to place blame on the guy who committed the crime, but I also think a lot of the blame falls on American leadership who, for too long, have made our police officers out to be enemies, instead of the great public servants that all of us know that they are,” Vance said. “So, know, from the president on down, this administration stands behind you guys. We love you guys. We know that you’re out there doing a good job for us, and I think that moral leadership matters just as much as the public policy. But from this administration, you’re, of course, going to get both.”
Hinton has filed a $25 million federal lawsuit against the Cincinnati Police Department, Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey, the Hamilton County Justice Center and others involved in his arrest and detention, claiming officers violated his civil rights after his arrest.
Among other complaints, the lawsuit alleges officers created an atmosphere of “fear, surveillance and intimidation” by lining the courtroom during his appearances before the judge. In a show of force and solidarity with their fallen colleague, Hamilton County Deputies lined up directly behind Hinton during his May 3 arraignment hearing. During Hinton’s May 6 bond hearing, deputies packed the gallery.
“Plaintiff was subjected to physical abuse and courtroom intimidation in violation of constitutional protections,” the lawsuit states. “Defendants’ deliberate actions caused plaintiff severe psychological trauma, public humiliation and emotional damage.”
On charges stemming from last week’s indictment, Hinton is scheduled to appear in court on May 22.
Follow CityBeat’s staff news writer Madeline Fening on Instagram. Got a news tip? Email mfening@citybeat.com.
Related Stories
Ryan Hinton Preliminary Autopsy Indicates Gunshot Wound Near Back, Side
Hinton Jr. Case: Ohio AG Calls on Lawmakers to Ban Crowdfunding for Criminal Defense
This article appears in May 14-27, 2025.
