D.C. police are in search of assist from the general public of their investigation into the Dec. 30 Dupont Circle stabbing loss of life of a 36-year-old man who had been arrested a minimum of 3 times between 2016 and 2023 for assault associated incidents within the neighborhood, based on police and courtroom data.
A police announcement says D.C. police and U.S. Park Law enforcement officials responded at about 3:58 p.m. Monday, Dec. 30, 2024, to Dupont Circle for a report of a stabbing. It says an grownup male later recognized as Dominique Ratiff of Southeast D.C. was discovered unresponsive affected by a stab wound.
In response to the assertion, he was taken to a hospital and pronounced useless. Police mentioned they’ve made no arrest within the case, however a police liaison officer advised the Dupont Circle Advisory Neighborhood Fee {that a} suspect was described as a male carrying a purple beanie and dishevelled sweatpants leaving the scene on a bicycle on New Hampshire Avenue, N.W.
Police have mentioned the stabbing occurred on the western facet of Dupont Circle that intersects with Massachusetts Avenue, N.W. close to the CVS Pharmacy and a PNC Financial institution.
Courtroom data present that Ratiff was first arrested on June 2, 2016, on a cost of assault with a harmful weapon and easy assault for allegedly hitting a lady along with his strolling cane following a “verbal altercation” in Dupont Circle.
D.C. Superior Courtroom data present he was arrested once more on June 15, 2016, for allegedly repeatedly punching a homeless man exterior the person’s tent close to 901 twenty seventh St., N.W., whereas carrying boxing gloves. That incident didn’t happen at Dupont Circle, however courtroom data present prosecutors mixed that case with the sooner assault case towards the girl.
The data present each circumstances have been dismissed by a decide after Ratiff complied along with his pre-trial launch necessities and efficiently accomplished a “psychological well being” diversion program.
Information present Ratiff’s third arrest occurred on April 16, 2022, when he was charged with Theft Pressure and Violence, Theft Second-Diploma, and Easy Assault for allegedly pushing a male sufferer towards the wall exterior of the CVS Pharmacy at Dupont Circle and taking cash from the person after threatening to stab him.
Once more, courtroom data present all prices have been dismissed towards Ratiff after he complied along with his pre-trial launch necessities and efficiently accomplished a courtroom diversion program that included neighborhood service.
His fourth arrest occurred on July 18, 2023, courtroom data present, when he was charged with Illegal Entry-Non-public Property and Easy Assault for allegedly getting into the CVS Pharmacy at Dupont Circle after having been barred from the premises one yr earlier and assaulting a CVS supervisor who advised him he needed to go away.
The data present {that a} distant “quotation” listening to was held on Aug. 9, 2023, which Ratiff attended along with his legal professional. In response to the data, a decide ordered him to return to courtroom on Sept. 20, 2023, for an arraignment and a judicial summons with the order was mailed to his tackle at 2863 Denver St., S.E.
The summons was returned as “undeliverable” on Aug. 22, 2023, and Ratiff failed to look on the Sept. 20 listening to, the data present, prompting the decide to difficulty a bench warrant for his arrest. However the data present no additional motion, comparable to an arrest, had taken place and authorities didn’t study of Ratiff’s whereabouts till the time he was discovered fatally stabbed in Dupont Circle.
Homosexual Dupont Circle Advisory Neighborhood Commissioner Vincent Slatt has known as Ratiff’s homicide a tragedy that probably may have been prevented by higher social companies applications that Slatt mentioned may have been organized by the courtroom system.
“This man had gone by the system a number of occasions, and the social companies have failed him,” Slatt advised the Washington Blade. “And it resulted in him getting killed.”
Slatt added, “So, he was in a number of of those deferment applications. However finally, he nonetheless wanted the social companies, and it price him his life,” Slatt mentioned. “This is a sign that we have to enhance our social companies. And these individuals are falling by the cracks.”
D.C. police are providing a $25,000 reward for data resulting in the arrest and conviction of the particular person chargeable for Ratiff’s homicide. Anybody with data that would assist in the investigation is requested to name the police Murder Department at 202-645-9600.
