GoFundMe support for Ohio deputy's accused killer puts 'target on the backs' of police: expert
Share this @internewscast.com

Online support for Rodney Hinton Jr., the father from Ohio charged with the murder of a sheriff’s deputy, is creating increased risks for law enforcement officers, as stated by National Police Association spokesperson Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith (Ret.). This comes after Hinton Jr. allegedly killed the deputy one day following the police shooting of his son during a chase involving a stolen car.

Prosecutors accuse Hinton Jr. of aggravated murder for supposedly “intentionally” hitting retired Deputy Larry Henderson with a car. The incident occurred when Henderson was managing traffic at a University of Cincinnati graduation event around 1 p.m. on Friday, Cincinnati police reported.

Recently, supporters have gathered financial backing through GoFundMe to aid Hinton Jr. with legal fees and cover funeral expenses for his son. Additionally, social media discussions have shown considerable backing for both Hinton Jr. and his son.

Brantner Smith told Fox News Digital that while everyone has a constitutional right to get legal representation in criminal cases, social media users seem to be promoting false information about the case “that somehow Rodney Hinton Jr. was unarmed and murdered by police, and nothing could be further from the truth,” she said.

Rodney Hinton, Jr., 38, is arraigned in Courtroom A at the Hamilton County Justice Center, Saturday, May 3, 2025.

Rodney Hinton, Jr., 38, is arraigned in Courtroom A at the Hamilton County Justice Center, Saturday, May 3, 2025. He’s charged with aggravated murder, allegedly after hitting a Hamilton County Sheriff deputy who was out of his vehicle directing traffic for the University of Cincinnati afternoon commencement. The incident happened on Martin Luther King Drive and Burnet Woods in Corryville. (© Liz Dufour/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK)

“His heinous and cowardly act shouldn’t be rewarded and celebrated like it is right now on GoFundMe. On behalf of all law enforcement officers, we demand GoFundMe stop honoring and profiting from a cop-killer who taunted deputies about the murder at his arraignment,” McDonald said.

GoFundMe did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Hinton family’s attorneys told Fox News Digital in a statement that the Cochran Firm “was hired by Ryan Hinton’s estate to conduct an investigation into his shooting death by an officer with the Cincinnati Police Department.”

“We are in the preliminary stages of that investigation,” the family’s attorneys said, adding that on Friday, Hinton family members and Cincinnati police attended a meeting together “to view body camera video of Ryan Hinton’s shooting death.”

Rodney Hinton Jr. mugshot

Rodney Hinton Jr. is charged with aggravated murder in connection with Hamilton County Deputy Larry Henderson’s death. (Hamilton County)

“Ryan Hinton’s family, including Ryan’s father, was present at the meeting and they were understandably distraught as they watched the bodycam video,” the family’s attorneys said. “After the meeting with the police department, Ryan Hinton’s father left in his own vehicle and that was the last we heard from him until learning about the tragic incident involving a law enforcement officer who was working a traffic detail near the University of Cincinnati.”

The attorneys offered their “heartfelt condolences to the family and colleagues of the officer who was killed yesterday.”

“This is an unimaginable tragedy for this community. Ryan Hinton’s family is heartbroken by this tragic turn of events and we are all devastated for the family of the officer who was killed,” the attorneys said.

Workers fix the traffic lights at Martin Luther King Drive and Burnet Woods in Corryville, a day after a Hamilton County Sheriff's deputy was struck and killed while directing traffic for the University of Cincinnati commencement on May 2, 2025.

Workers fix the traffic lights at Martin Luther King Drive and Burnet Woods in Corryville, a day after a Hamilton County Sheriff’s deputy was struck and killed while directing traffic for the University of Cincinnati commencement on May 2, 2025. Rodney Hinton, Jr., 38, has been charged with aggravated murder in the crash. (© Liz Dufour/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK)

Rodney Hinton Sr., Ryan Hinton’s grandfather, said during a Monday afternoon press conference that he is “praying hard for the officer that killed” his grandson and recalled what he saw in the police bodycam footage of his grandson’s shooting death.

“I seen in the video…two scared people: I seen the officer scared, and I seen my grandson scared. So, it’s an unfortunate incident that happened,” Hinton Sr. said. “I didn’t see the police there trying to kill, kill, kill. No. All I seen is two people who made a mistake.”

Rodney Hinton Sr. speaks during a Monday press conference

Rodney Hinton Sr., Ryan Hinton’s grandfather, said during a Monday afternoon press conference that he is “praying hard for the officer that killed” his grandson and recalled what he saw in the police bodycam footage of his grandson’s shooting death. (WXIX)

Henderson was a 33-year officer with the HCSO and served in multiple specialized units since 1991, including the dive team, HCPA SWAT, FBI Task Force Officer and the HCSO Bomb Unit.

“In Deputy Henderson’s early tenure as a Sheriff’s Deputy, I recognized his talent for teaching and presentation,” Hamilton County Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey said in a Sunday statement. “Larry began his journey as a Sheriff’s Office trainer early in his career. He developed an expertise and became an excellent trainer. Subsequently, he trained divisions of the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office that included hundreds of deputy sheriffs. His ability to relate to and touch officers’ lives was extraordinary. We will continue to honor Larry’s life of service.”

Ohio Gov. Mike Dewine ordered flags be lowered to half-mast in Henderson’s honor on Sunday.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Historic Footage of Notorious ‘Mosul Orb’ UFO Released as US Spy Cameras Capture Enigmatic Object Hovering Over Iraq

THE first ever bombshell footage of the infamous “Mosul orb” UFO captured…
Federal government plans to air-drop sterile flies over Texas to fight flesh-eating maggots

Federal Government to Deploy Sterile Flies in Texas to Combat Flesh-Eating Maggots

The U.S. government is set to release millions of flies across Mexico…
Port Authority Bus Terminal entrance in New York City.

Port Authority Bus Accident Injures 12; Driver Freed from Wreckage, Terminal Closure Causes Delays

AT least 12 people have been hurt in a massive multi-bus crash…
Islanders sign KHL star Maxim Shabanov in free agency swing

Islanders Acquire KHL standout Maxim Shabanov in Free Agency Move

The Islanders had more moves to make in free agency. On Wednesday,…

Ainsley Earhardt Posts Heartwarming Behind-the-Scenes Photos Months Following Engagement to Fox News Colleague Sean Hannity

AINSLEY Earhardt gave fans a look behind the scenes as she filmed…
Northeast Florida law enforcement's three-day sting nets 33 arrests

Three-day sting operation in Northeast Florida leads to 33 arrests

The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office has named their recent operation ‘Operation…
Mugshot of Travis Caleb Decker, wanted for murder.

DNA Discovery on Handprints Intensifies Travis Decker Murder Investigation Amid Exhaustive Five-Week Search

POLICE have new evidence that links a father to the murder scene…
Fireworks and pets: How to keep animals calm and safe

Keeping Your Pets Calm and Safe During Fireworks

Veterinarians and animal experts recommend creating a safe space indoors, staying close…
New Jersey man Ishaan Sharma gets pummeled after instigating fight on Frontier Airline flight

New Jersey Man Ishaan Sharma Gets Beaten After Provoking Fight on Frontier Airlines Flight

He took the black-eye flight. A man from New Jersey ended up…

Glamorous ‘Goodnight Cinderella’ thief caught after seducing tourists and stealing £13k by drugging them

This captures the arrest of a thief nicknamed “Goodnight Cinderella,” who targeted…
Anti-slavery document from 1847 reveals American Baptists' commitment to abolition

1847 Anti-Slavery Document Showcases American Baptists’ Dedication to Ending Slavery

In Groton, Massachusetts, Jennifer Cromack was sorting through the American Baptist archive…
Wisconsin Supreme Court's liberal majority strikes down 176-year-old abortion ban

Wisconsin’s Supreme Court Overturns 176-Year-Old Abortion Ban with Liberal Majority Vote

The liberal majority of the Wisconsin Supreme Court overturned a 176-year-old abortion…