Parents defend son accused of shooting DC police officers, citing mental illness
EXCLUSIVE: Accused shooter's parents cite mental illness in DC police shooting
The parents of a man accused of shooting three D.C. police officers are speaking out in defense of their son. Icylin Rattigan exclusively told FOX 5's Shomari Stone that her son, Stephen Rattigan, suffers from a mental illness and heard voices in his head.
FOX 5 EXCLUSIVE - The parents of a man accused of shooting three D.C. police officers are speaking out in defense of their son.
Icylin Rattigan exclusively told FOX 5's Shomari Stone that her son, Stephen Rattigan, suffers from a mental illness and heard voices in his head.
She doesn't know why he was living with 31 dogs.
Parents defend son accused of shooting DC police officers, citing mental illness
D.C. police said Stephen shot three officers Wednesday who were serving an arrest warrant at his home for animal cruelty.
RELATED: Suspect accused of shooting 3 DC police officers surrenders, 31 dogs removed from home
Ms. Rattigan said she feels "terrible" about what transpired on Hanna Place in Southeast yesterday.
"I felt it to my heart because he is here, and they could be in the morgue," she said. "We are very sympathetic."
WATCH: Suspect accused of shooting 3 DC police officers surrenders, 31 dogs removed from home
Julius James, the man accused of shooting three D.C. police officers Wednesday morning in Southeast, surrendered after an hours-long standoff.
When asked what set her son off Wednesday morning, Ms. Rattigan said, "I thought the dogs, where he is living … I think they want him to get out because he has dogs. The landlord wanted him to get out … He said he couldn’t find a place."
"We felt bad, but he’s not mentally stable," the family said.
Suspect accused of shooting 3 DC police officers gave fake name
The suspect accused of shooting three D.C. police officers before an hours-long stand-off has been ordered to remain in jail. D.C. police initially identified the suspect as 46-year-old Julius James but confirmed to FOX 5 Thursday, the suspect provided officers a false name. A police department spokesperson said the suspect’s name is Michael Rattigan, though court documents list the suspect’s name as Stephen Rattigan.
New court documents obtained by FOX 5 state Rattigan told police he does not take any medications for mental health, but he "is not right in the head and needs help".
RELATED: DC standoff: Wounded officers released from hospital; suspect expected to face more charges
Rattigan is facing several charges, including assault with intent to kill while armed, and assault on a police officer while armed.
A judge ordered he remain in jail without bond Thursday. He has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Feb. 29.