DC Superior Court Judge Neal E. Kravitz questioned the need for continued electronic GPS monitoring during a status hearing on Nov. 7.
Donald Shields, 47, is charged with second-degree murder while armed for his alleged involvement in the fatal stabbing of Dominique Antonio Ratiff, 36, on the 1900 block of Massachusetts Avenue NW on Dec. 30, 2024.
According to court documents, officers found Ratliff lying in the roadway bleeding from his neck. He was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) later identified him and determined the cause of death was a single stab wound to the right side of his neck.
At the hearing, Bernadette Armand, Shields’ attorney, requested that Shields’ GPS ankle monitor be removed, arguing that he has been fully compliant with release conditions.
The prosecution opposed the request, citing the seriousness of the murder charge and asserting that monitoring should continue.
Judge Kravitz questioned whether GPS monitoring remained necessary, noting that Shields is not subject to a stay-away order, and instructed defense to file a written motion if they wish to pursue modification.
The parties are scheduled to reconvene on Feb. 6, 2026.
