Woman found guilty in Rochester racial slur case
Woman found guilty in Rochester racial slur case
An Olmsted County jury found Shiloh Hendrix, a woman accused of calling a child a racial slur at a Rochester playground last year, guilty of disorderly conduct after her outburst went viral.
ROCHESTER, Minn. (FOX 9) - An Olmsted County jury reached a split verdict in the trial of Shiloh Hendrix, a woman accused of calling a child a racial slur at a Rochester playground last year, finding her guilty of one of two counts of disorderly conduct after her outburst went viral.
Split verdict in racial slur trial in Rochester
Big picture view:
The jury found Hendrix guilty of disorderly conduct against the man operating the camera, but not guilty of disorderly conduct including a child, according to FOX 9 affiliate KTTC.
Hendrix will also receive supervised probation, 90 days in jail which will be stayed and serve 200 hours of community work service. She is also ordered to pay a $1,000 fine.
The incident happened on April 28, 2025, at Roy Sutherland Playground near Soldier’s Field Park. Hendrix was criminally charged on Aug. 26, 2025.
City of Rochester response
What they're saying:
The Rochester City Attorney shared the following statement:
"We acknowledge yesterday’s jury verdict convicting Shiloh Hendrix of disorderly conduct in relation to an incident that occurred at Roy Sutherland Playground at Soldier’s Field Park in April of 2025. We respect the judicial process and appreciate the time, dedication, and service of the jurors, the court, and all parties involved.
"In addition to this conviction, the State acknowledges what has made this incident so painful for many, in our community and beyond; Ms. Hendrix fully admitted to her hateful and racist conduct, toward a child with a disability and others, and she has profited immensely while showing no remorse.
"Since 2025, we have recognized the significant attention and emotion surrounding this case, as well as the complex and lasting impacts situations like this have on communities of color and on our broader community. In the time following the incident, conversations and community‑driven activities began unfolding across many different spaces, reflecting both immediate responses and long‑term needs. This work continues today and remains an important part of supporting community reconciliation and progress.
"As partners in this work, we remain committed to listening, engaging, and supporting efforts that strengthen trust and well‑being across the community. We do not anticipate providing further comment on this matter."
The backstory:
Rochester slur video: The latest
After a video went viral of a woman accused of using a racial slur against a child in Rochester, Minn., a rally was held on Monday as police finished their investigation into the video.
A criminal complaint filed in Olmsted County states that Rochester police responded to Roy Sutherland Playground near Soldier’s Field Park on April 28, 2025, and learned that a man had taken a cell phone video of an encounter with a woman, later identified as Hendrix, shortly after she allegedly engaged in a hostile and racist manner with a child at the park.
The video then went viral on social media, garnering millions of views and several reaction videos.
The complaint states a man told authorities he was at the park with his three children shortly after 6 p.m., adding that one of his boys was 8-years-old and has autism.
At some point while they were at the park, the child approached a diaper bag that belonged to somebody else, and took an applesauce pouch from it. The man saw it, and tried to get it from him.
The complaint states Hendrix also saw the boy take the pouch, and started chasing the boy, who went to the playground to get away from his dad and Hendrix.
Hendrix allegedly got angry with the boy, calling him a racial slur and causing the boy to freeze. The boy’s dad told police he was afraid Hendrix would try to hit the boy, and grabbed the food from him.
Crowdfunding campaign:
In the days after the incident, Hendrix posted a crowdfunding campaign, saying her family was in great turmoil after her personal information was leaked online.
She said at the time she feared having to move her family for safety, and asked for donations to protect herself and family.
The crowdfunding campaign raised nearly $900,000 as of late July 2026.
The Source: This story uses information from trial proceedings in Olmsted County Court shared by affiliate FOX 9 affiliate KTTC and previous FOX 9 reporting.