A brawl broke out in a Cincinnati courtroom during a hearing for Rodney Hinton Jr., 38. He is charged with running over a sheriff’s deputy who was directing traffic near the University of Cincinnati during a graduation ceremony.
Sheriff’s deputy Larry Henderson was struck by Hinton who “aimed his car” straight at him. Henderson was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
Hinton was denied bond at a court hearing on Tuesday, May 6. A brawl broke out when his brother knocked on a window separating the visitors from the accused.
When deputies told the man to “have a seat”, he confronted them and was led out of the courtroom. The judge cleared the courtroom and a brawl broke out in the hallway between family members and police.
Deputy Henderson’s senseless murder was in retaliation for the fatal shooting of Hinton’s son, Ryan Hinton, by another police officer.
The Cincinnati Police Department said 18-year-old Ryan Hinton pointed a gun at police while fleeing last week. Ryan was a passenger in a stolen car that was pulled over by police on May 1.
The officer’s body camera does not capture the moment Ryan allegedly pointed the gun at the officer.
On May 2, police invited Rod Hinton and other family members to view the body camera footage of his son’s fatal shooting.
Afterwards, attorney Michael Wright said Rod Hinton was “distraught” when he left the police department.
“He couldn’t finish watching the video,” Wright said of Hinton, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Police say Rod Hinton briefly returned to the police building before driving away.
Within minutes, 911 calls flooded into the dispatch center describing a fatal accident involving a police officer and a motorist.
Deputy Henderson was directing traffic when he was intentionally struck and killed by Hinton.
Hinton was arrested and charged with aggravated murder. He pleaded not guilty.
“This is a horrific tragedy on both sides,” Hinton’s attorney said. “This family lost their son, and this police officer lost his life.”
The black community has rallied in support of Hinton who is being held in jail without bond. The jail has stopped accepting donations from the public for his commissary.
The manosphere has hailed Hinton as a hero for killing a white cop. His supporters demand his release on bond.
Hinton’s case is similar to that of 17-year-old Karmelo Anthony, a black Texas resident who fatally stabbed Austin Metcalf, who is white, during a dispute at a track meet on April 2.
A crowdfunding site raised over $500,000 for Karmelo’s family. He was eventually released on house arrest.
