CINCINNATI — A somber gathering of over a hundred people took place in Mt. Airy Forest on Saturday evening, honoring the life of 18-year-old Ryan Hinton, who was shot by police just days after celebrating his birthday. Friends and family members shared their grief and memories, reflecting on the young man’s impact on their lives.
Diamonte Jackson, Hinton’s brother, expressed the profound sense of loss he feels. “I don’t even know how to feel,” he said, adding that their close relationship had turned from siblings to a bond akin to that of brothers as they grew up. “He was my little brother, but soon he became my big brother.”
Hinton’s life was cut short on May 1 while Cincinnati police were responding to a report of a stolen vehicle in East Price Hill. During the incident, four teenagers emerged from the car and fled the scene. Within seconds, an officer fired multiple shots, striking Hinton twice. The officer later stated that Hinton allegedly turned to point a weapon as he attempted to escape.
Jackson firmly disputed this claim. “That gun should have never been shot. It’s clear he was running away; he never looked at that officer,” he said. David Hambrick, another family member, questioned the officer’s response, asking, “What was he threatened by?”
The Cincinnati chapter of the NAACP is calling for an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Hinton’s death. NAACP President David Whitehead expressed concern over whether the incident could have been avoided. “If there was any opportunity for that young man not to have lost his life, we should seek to prevent such tragedies in the future,” he stated.
The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigations is currently conducting a probe into the shooting. Their findings will be submitted to Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich, who will decide whether charges should be brought based on the evidence.
As the investigation unfolds, the Cincinnati Police Department has not publicly identified the officer involved in the shooting. Hinton’s father, Rodney Hinton Jr., faces separate legal troubles; he is charged with aggravated murder for the alleged vehicular homicide of Hamilton County sheriff’s deputy Larry Henderson just one day after his son was killed. Prosecutors allege that Rodney Hinton targeted Henderson in retaliation for the shooting of Ryan.
If convicted, the elder Hinton could face significant penalties, including life imprisonment or the death penalty. The tragic sequence of events has ignited conversations about police use of force and the ongoing struggle for justice in the community, as family members and advocates seek answers and accountability.