CINCINNATI, OH — Hamilton County Prosecutor Connie Pillich announced Monday that Cincinnati police officer Cian McGrath was legally justified in the fatal shooting of 28-year-old Ryan Hinton, which occurred on May 1 in East Price Hill.

After a comprehensive review of the case and forensic evidence, the prosecutor concluded that the officer acted lawfully in the face of an immediate threat.

“When Ryan Hinton was confronted by officers about a stolen vehicle, he not only had a gun—with a fully loaded magazine and a bullet in the chamber—but he pointed it at Officer A,” Pillich said during the announcement. “Officer A made a split-second decision that likely saved his life and the lives of fellow officers.”

Pillich confirmed that the case was not presented to a grand jury, stating that the review process was thorough and based on an extensive evaluation of the facts.

A final forensic report had recently been delivered to the prosecutor’s office prior to the decision.

“I am confident that the goal of a fair and complete review has been achieved,” she said.

The shooting occurred after Cincinnati police responded to a report of a stolen Kia vehicle parked at an apartment complex on Warsaw Avenue.

Two undercover units initially located the vehicle and confirmed it was occupied. They then pulled back to allow uniformed officers to engage.

As officers approached, four individuals exited the stolen vehicle and fled on foot. According to Cincinnati Police Chief Terri Theetge, at least one of the suspects was visibly armed.

Hinton, identified as the individual with the weapon, slipped during his flight, and officers reported hearing the sound of a firearm hitting the ground.

Hinton regained his footing and fled between a set of dumpsters, where he encountered Officer McGrath, who was pursuing another suspect. In that encounter, Officer McGrath discharged his weapon, firing four to five rounds.

A firearm with an extended magazine was recovered at the scene, along with another loaded magazine found in Hinton’s pocket. A second firearm was discovered inside the stolen vehicle.

On May 20, the Hamilton County Coroner’s Office released preliminary autopsy results. Dr. Lakshmi Sammarco reported that Hinton sustained three gunshot wounds—one to the left forearm, one to the left side of the chest, and one near the right chest.

Only one bullet was recovered, found near the right side of the chest.

In a virtual town hall hosted by Cincinnati’s Black United Front, Chief Theetge emphasized that law enforcement officers are not required to wait until a firearm is aimed directly at them to use deadly force.

She reiterated the officer’s belief that his life was in immediate danger.

In a separate but closely linked incident, Hinton’s father, Rodney Hinton Jr., was involved in a fatal crash the day after the shooting. Authorities say he struck Hamilton County Deputy Larry Henderson with a vehicle near the University of Cincinnati.

Deputy Henderson later died from his injuries. Rodney Hinton Jr. has since been charged with multiple offenses, including two counts of aggravated murder, one count of murder, and two counts of felonious assault. He has pleaded not guilty, and a jury trial is scheduled to begin on January 12, 2026.

Following Prosecutor Pillich’s press briefing, the Hinton family is expected to hold their own press conference at 3 p.m. to address the findings of the investigation and respond to the county’s decision.

The investigation into the May 1 shooting is now considered closed by the prosecutor’s office.