Man accused of shooting 3 DC police officers serving arrest warrant for animal cruelty makes first court appearance
WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — The man who shot three D.C. police officers attempting to serve an arrest warrant for animal cruelty appeared in court Thursday.
Stephen Claude Rattigan, also known as Julius James, 48, was charged with assault with intent to kill while armed, assault on a police officer while armed, cruelty to animals and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence. The judge ordered him to be held without bond pending a preliminary hearing that will take place on Feb. 29.
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Officials said that he shot the three Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers and then barricaded himself for hours inside his Southeast D.C. home on Wednesday.
According to court documents, MPD officers were trying to execute an arrest warrant because of an animal cruelty complaint that stemmed from an incident back in April of 2023. Security camera footage had caught Rattigan “beating one of his dogs several times in the face.” Then on Jan. 24, an Animal Control investigator went to his home because he had a “number of animals”
and needed a permit for that.
The court documents also said that on Jan. 8, a Humane Society Officer had previously visited his home as well to address the animal’s inhumane living conditions based on the complaint that was received.
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When MPD officers went to Rattigan’s home, located in the 5000 block of Hanna Place, he started shooting at them and then barricaded himself inside for more than 12 hours before surrendering later that day.
Court documents said during phone calls with negotiators Rattigan told them he “fired off rounds because he was under the impression that the police were going to harm him and his dogs.” He said if police came inside, his dogs would attack, resulting in officers killing them so he fired warning shots.
Later in the day, detectives said Rattigan sporadically shot his gun from inside his house, hitting the driver’s door of an armored truck and a neighbor’s car.
Police said he admitted to firing several rounds later in the day because it was taking too long for him to get his cigarettes.
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Investigators say Rattigan explained he doesn’t take medication for any mental health issues but he’s “not right” in the head and needs help.
After Rattigan was taken into custody, Humane Law Enforcement officers removed 31 dogs — 20 adults and 11 puppies — from his home.
MPD was still investigating the case as of Thursday evening.
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