The family of Ryan Hinton, the 18-year-old fatally shot by a Cincinnati police officer, called for the incident to be thoroughly investigated in a press conference yesterday. Hinton was killed during a foot chase in East Price Hill on Thursday, and his family has since hired the services of the Cochran Firm to represent his estate.
Ryan's grandfather, Rodney Hinton Sr., described the tragic encounter captured on the officer's body camera. "I seen two scared people," Hinton Sr. said, according to WCPO. "I seen the officer scared and I seen my grandson scared. So it's an unfortunate incident that happened, but that's all I seen." The sentiments were similar in statements made to WCPO, where he noted that both parties "made a mistake."
Details of the fateful events were provided by Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge, suggesting that while Ryan did possess a firearm during the chase, the family disputes that the shooting was justified. "We do know that he exited the vehicle with a gun in his hand; the officer saw that. We do know that at one point he stumbled, had that same gun still in his hand, it hit the ground, he got up, still had that same gun in his hand, and then he ran between the dumpsters," Theetge explained on Lincoln Ware's radio show, as reported by Local12.
The family's attorney, Michael Wright, found the body camera footage troubling and has requested additional footage and police reports to understand the incident better. “What we saw was disturbing. The family was upset,” Wright conveyed to WLWT. In light of these concerns, Wright emphasized the urgency for analysis, "We believe this incident should be investigated and it's not that cut and dry," he broadened, his comments echoing the family's call for a deeper inquiry into the circumstances around Ryan’s death.
At the press conference, Ryan’s family shared personal anecdotes and their emotional state. His grandmother, Tonya Larkin, addressed the systemic fears affecting their community, "We as black people, we don't deserve to be killed just because we're running away from the police. We're scared just as much as they are, whether we did something right or wrong," Larkin told WLWT. Their collective grief was apparent as they demanded change in police training and an increase in understanding towards the black community. Damarlyn Howard, Ryan's cousin, poignantly stated to WLWT, "He had no business being in a stolen car. He had a bed to come home to," highlighting Ryan's unexpected and tragic turn of events.
With multiple investigations underway, Wright urged the public to reserve judgment, stating through WLWT, "I would hope that the tensions in this city would relax, that everyone just wait and not rush to judgment on either side and hopefully we can get through this very tragic situation," Wright suggested, appealing for patience and healing among all parties affected.
