CINCINNATI — The Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed the death of Deputy Larry Henderson, who was tragically killed on Friday during an incident near the University of Cincinnati campus. Henderson, a dedicated law enforcement officer, had a distinguished career spanning over three decades.
Sheriff Charmaine McGuffey praised Henderson’s contributions, stating that he served the department since 1991. Throughout his career, he took on numerous roles, including a trainer for new recruits, a member of the SWAT and dive teams, and participation in the FBI task force and bomb unit. McGuffey highlighted Henderson’s exceptional ability to connect with and inspire fellow officers, calling his impact on the department “extraordinary.”
The sheriff’s office had recently celebrated Henderson’s retirement on social media, though that post has since been removed. In a solemn tribute, McGuffey announced that Henderson’s badge number, #129, will be permanently retired to honor his service and commitment.
On the day of the incident, Henderson was assigned to manage traffic as graduation ceremonies were underway at UC. At approximately 1 p.m., he was struck by a vehicle at the intersection of Martin Luther King Drive and Burnet Woods Drive. Despite immediate medical attention at UC Medical Center, he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Rodney Hinton Jr., the 38-year-old driver of the vehicle, was arrested at the scene and faces charges of aggravated murder in connection with Henderson’s death. Hinton’s son, Ryan Hinton, had been killed by Cincinnati police just hours earlier, reportedly leading to a distraught state during the incident.
Statements from representatives for Hinton’s family revealed that he had just seen body camera footage of his son’s fatal encounter with police before the collision with Henderson. This context has sparked discussions about the potential impact of trauma and grief on Hinton’s state of mind at the time.
Sheriff McGuffey indicated that further details regarding Deputy Henderson’s funeral will be provided soon, as the sheriff’s office and community mourn the loss of a dedicated public servant.