The trial of Rodney Hinton Jr. continued this week in Hamilton County, Ohio, with jurors hearing extensive testimony about the events surrounding the death of Deputy Larry Henderson Jr. Hinton is charged with murder in connection with a crash on May 2, 2025, in which prosecutors say he deliberately struck the deputy with his vehicle.

Deputy Henderson was directing traffic near Burnet Woods during University of Cincinnati graduation weekend when the collision occurred. According to authorities, Hinton drove his car into the area where Henderson was standing, resulting in fatal injuries. Hinton has entered a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity. His defense maintains that he was in the grip of serious mental illness and extreme emotional distress after his 18-year-old son, Ryan Hinton, was fatally sH๏τ by a Cincinnati police officer the previous day. That officer-involved shooting was later ruled justified.

Prosecutors, led by Heidi Rosales, argue that Hinton acted intentionally and that grief or emotional turmoil does not excuse the killing. Defense attorney Clyde Bennett has focused on Hinton’s mental state, ᴀsserting that the trauma of viewing body-camera footage of his son’s death left him unable to appreciate the wrongfulness of his actions. The death penalty is no longer being pursued in the case.

On Friday, multiple witnesses described the moments before and after the crash. Several testified that they saw no indication of braking and that Hinton’s vehicle appeared to travel directly toward Henderson and a nearby utility pole. One witness offered a different recollection, stating that the car first seemed to target the pole before striking the deputy. That account was noted by the defense as distinct from other testimony.

A bystander recalled hearing a deputy call out, “Hang on, Larry, hang on,” in the immediate aftermath. Another witness said he had almost crossed the street when he heard a loud impact, turned, and saw the deputy lying face down with the vehicle crashed into the scene. Henderson’s wife sat in the courtroom during the testimony and became visibly emotional.

Hamilton County Chief Deputy Coroner Dr. Karen Looman reviewed the autopsy findings with the jury. She determined the cause of death to be blunt force injuries to the head and torso. She explained that while most motor-vehicle collisions are classified as accidents, the deliberate use of a vehicle as a weapon is treated as homicide.

Lead detective Carl Beebe told the court that the investigation shifted from a traffic matter to a homicide inquiry once authorities confirmed that Rodney Hinton was the father of Ryan Hinton. The connection suggested a possible motive linked to the previous day’s shooting. Beebe said detectives examined roughly 400 pieces of video evidence and compiled about 15 minutes of footage showing Hinton’s movements from a police station to the crash site. That video was presented to the jury for the first time during the trial.

Hinton’s cousin, Monique Gilliam, who was driving behind him at the time of the collision, also testified. She said Hinton had watched body-camera video of his son’s shooting despite family members urging him not to. She described him as quiet and deeply distressed by grief but said he did not appear to be hallucinating. Gilliam recounted following his car and sounding her horn when it seemed he was deciding whether to merge or turn at a light just before the impact.

Earlier testimony included accounts from officers who responded to the scene and from individuals who knew Henderson personally. Some described the shock of realizing a colleague had been struck. Body-camera footage from responding officers was also shown, capturing efforts to aid the deputy in the moments after the crash.

The trial remains focused on two central questions: whether Hinton deliberately used his vehicle as a weapon, and whether his mental state at the time met the legal standard for not guilty by reason of insanity. Prosecutors continue to present evidence of intentional conduct, while the defense emphasizes the profound psychological impact of the loss of his son the day before.

Sources : FOX19.