Jury selection began on October 5, 2026, in the Hamilton County Common Pleas Court for the trial of Rodney Hinton Jr. The 40-year-old defendant is accused of intentionally striking and killing retired Hamilton County Sheriff’s Deputy Larry Henderson with his vehicle on May 2, 2025. Judge Jody Luebbers summoned 107 potential jurors to evaluate the case, which centers on the defendant’s mental state at the time of the crash.
Prosecutors allege that Hinton deliberately accelerated his Ford Focus into Henderson while the officer was directing traffic near the University of Cincinnati. The incident occurred hours after Hinton and his family viewed police body camera footage. The footage showed his 18-year-old son, Ryan Hinton, being fatally shot by a Cincinnati police officer following an incident involving a stolen vehicle.
Defense and Prosecution Arguments Focus on Mental State
Hinton pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to charges including two counts of aggravated murder, murder, and two counts of felonious assault. Because of the insanity plea, Hinton is not facing the death penalty under Ohio law.
Defense attorney Clyde Bennett II stated that Hinton suffered a severe mental break after witnessing the body camera footage of his son’s death. Bennett noted that a court-appointed forensic psychologist found Hinton has bipolar disorder. This condition significantly impaired his decision-making on the day Henderson was killed. Bennett emphasized that finding impartial jurors capable of setting aside their feelings regarding the death of a law enforcement officer presents a primary challenge for the defense.
Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich stated that the trial is expected to last several weeks. Prosecutors plan to argue that Hinton targeted Henderson because he was a law enforcement officer. They point to evidence that Hinton rapidly accelerated through the intersection without attempting to brake.
Rigorous Jury Selection Process Underway
The selection process involves a 23-page questionnaire given to the pool of 107 prospective jurors. The survey includes questions regarding potential biases concerning race and previous personal experiences with police officers. Court officials intend to seat a jury consisting of 12 primary jurors and four alternates.
Despite significant public interest and heavy media coverage, court administrators confirmed that the courthouse remains fully open to the public with standard security measures in place. Following the conclusion of jury selection and preliminary site visits to the intersection where Henderson lost his life, opening statements are scheduled to begin on Thursday morning.
