Deputy dead after being struck by father of man shot by police May 1. What we know
A Hamilton County Sheriff's deputy has died after being hit by a car driven by the father of a man who was killed by Cincinnati police the day before.
Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge said during a news conference that the sheriff's deputy, whose identity was not released, was hit by a car being driven by the father of 18-year-old Ryan Hinton. The crash happened around 1 p.m. May 2.
The crash comes a day after police fatally shot Hinton in East Price Hill during a car theft investigation.
Here's what we know.
When and where was the fatal crash?
The crash occurred around 1 p.m. May 1, just a few hours before the beginning of graduation ceremonies for the University of Cincinnati.
It happened near the corner of Martin Luther King Drive and Burnet Woods in the CUF neighborhood, north of UC's campus. The deputy was outside of his vehicle operating a traffic light when a car driven by Hinton's father, Rodney HInton Jr., entered the intersection and struck him.
Lawyer: Family had watched body camera of shooting just hours before deputy was killed
The deputy and Hinton's father were transported to the hospital in critical condition. The deputy later died.
Traffic on Martin Luther King Drive was closed for several hours after the crash. The road reopened shortly after 6 p.m.
Who was the deputy who died in the crash?
The deputy's identity has not been released yet. Theetge said he had recently retired from the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office and was working a special detail by directing traffic for the graduation.
"The officer was just out doing his job," Theetge said.
Officials have withheld the deputy's name, citing Marsy's Law, legislation meant to protect victims of crimes.
Who is charged in the crash?
Cincinnati police said the driver of the vehicle that struck the deputy, 38-year-old Rodney Hinton Jr., has been arrested on a charge of aggravated murder.
What happened during the police shooting in East Price Hill?
On May 1, the day before the fatal crash, Cincinnati police went to an apartment complex in East Price Hill after learning a stolen vehicle was found there.
Four suspects, who police believed stole the car, took off running into the woods, some in different directions. One officer chased 18-year-old Ryan Hinton, who was seen holding a gun.
The officer called out twice that Hinton had a gun. The suspect tripped but continued to run between two dumpsters with a gun in his hand, before he encountered another officer, Theetge said.
Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge at a press conference on 3201 Warsaw Ave., Thursday, May 1, in East Price Hill. Police responded to a shooting on the 2500 block of Warsaw Avenue.
The other officer was pursuing someone else when the armed suspect emerged from between the dumpsters, Theetge said. The body camera showed the officer fired four to five rounds at the suspect as he ran in the officer's direction.
While it's unclear from the blurred body camera footage, Theetge said, the officer who fired the shots said in interviews that the suspect pointed the gun at him.
More: Fatal East Price Hill police shooting happened during 'six quick seconds,' chief says
Was the fatal crash intentional?
Police and a lawyer for Hinton's father have not provided details on the intentions behind the crash.
Hinton's lawyer said in an interview with The Enquirer that the father was "very distraught" watching body camera footage of the shooting earlier in the day, around 10 a.m.
"He couldn't finish watching the video," Michael Wright, of the Cochran Law Firm, said of the father. "It was very difficult to watch for the family."
Cincinnati police officers were involved in a shooting before 10 a.m. Thursday, May 1, at the Westview Condominiums on Warsaw Avenue in East Price Hill.
Have police arrested the other suspects after the police shooting?
Theetge said after the shooting, the other three suspects ran off into a steep, heavily wooded area. After an extensive search, she said, police apprehended Jurell Austin, 18, and 19-year-old Deanthony Bullocks.
A third suspect evaded police custody, Theetge said.
Gov. Mike DeWine sent condolences
Gov. Mike DeWine issued a statement about the death of the deputy who died in the line of duty May 2 while directing traffic.
"Fran and I are saddened to learn about the Hamilton County deputy hit by a vehicle and killed in the line of duty today. I have been briefed on the ongoing investigation and am sickened by what appears to be an intentional act of violence. We offer our sincere condolences to the deputy's family, friends, and colleagues."
This story will be updated.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Rodney Hinton Jr. identified as driver who hit deputy: What we know
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