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By
Mia Kimm
- April 9, 2025
Daily Stories
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Non-Fatal Shooting
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Suspects
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A defendant accused of shooting police officers pleaded not guilty and was denied release by DC Superior Court Judge Michael Ryan on April 4.
Stephen Rattigan, 49, is charged with six counts of assault with intent to kill while armed, six counts of assault on a police officer while armed, 15 counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, destruction of property worth $1,000 or more, endangerment with a firearm, five counts of unlawful possession of a firearm by a convict, and cruelty to animals for his alleged involvement in the shooting of three Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers on Feb. 14, 2024 on the 5000 block of Hanna Place, SE.
According to court documents, the shooting stemmed from a barricaded situation following MPD’s arrival at Rattigan’s home with an arrest warrant for animal cruelty. During the confrontation, Rattigan allegedly shot and injured three MPD officers but surrendered after a standoff lasting several hours.
“After Rattigan was arrested, MPD executed a court-authorized search warrant inside the home. Inside, Rattigan had thirty-one dogs, three handguns, two AR-style rifles, two full drum magazines, and additional large-capacity magazines,” according to an April 4 release from the US Attorney’s Office..
During the hearing, Stephen LoGerfo, Rattigan’s attorney, informed the court of his decision to plead not guilty and asserted his right to a speedy trial.
LoGerfo also requested release, insisting that Rattigan has almost no criminal history, can stay with family in the community, and is amenable to any release conditions. He added that the concept of “intent to kill” was not present as MPD forced entry, and it’s possible that Rattigan was unaware of what was happening.
The prosecution objected and reasoned that, due to the nature of the charges, release was not warranted. They also challenged LoGerfo’s characterization of the offense and said that MPD made their presence obvious.
Furthermore, the prosecution said that even after an hours-long standoff, Rattigan allegedly fired three shots through the door indicating Rattigan was unwilling to cooperate with police orders–and they are concerned that he won’t abide by release conditions.
Judge Ryan said the facts depict a troubling series of events over a stretch of time. He added that, although each alone might not be sufficient for hold, the combination of all the acts is concerning. Judge Ryan denied LoGerfo’s request for release and said that he can’t find any combination of conditions that would ensure the safety of the community.
Parties are expected to return to court on July 11.