A gunman opened fire at a popular Washington, D.C., gym Thursday morning, killing one person and injuring four others before barricading himself inside a nearby apartment and turning the gun on himself, authorities said.
The deadly shooting unfolded around 8 a.m. November 12 in the capital’s busy Logan Circle neighborhood, approximately one mile from the White House, triggering a massive police response and forcing residents and businesses into lockdown.
According to Metropolitan Police Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll, the violence began inside VIDA Fitness near the intersection of 15th and P streets Northwest, where the suspected gunman reportedly opened fire on people inside the facility.
One person was killed at the gym, while four others were wounded. One of the injured victims was hospitalized in critical condition, and the remaining three suffered injuries described as non-life-threatening.
Witnesses described a terrifying scene as gunshots erupted during the morning workout rush.
James Spellman, who was inside the gym, told the Associated Press that he heard gunfire before seeing a man collapse to the floor. Another gym member immediately rushed to help, but the victim appeared to have suffered a fatal injury.
As frightened gym members fled, the suspected shooter retreated to a seventh-floor apartment in a nearby residential building, where he barricaded himself inside.
Police surrounded the property and deployed SWAT teams while ordering residents in the surrounding neighborhood to shelter in place.
The confrontation escalated when officers attempted to make contact with the suspect.
According to Carroll, the gunman fired multiple shots through his apartment door toward responding officers, creating an additional threat as tactical teams worked to secure the building.
Police negotiators eventually established communication with the man, but the standoff ended when he suffered an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Authorities subsequently confirmed that the suspected gunman had died, bringing the total number of deaths to two.
As investigators began piecing together what triggered the violence, a possible motive emerged involving a bitter dispute over the suspect’s condominium.
Carroll said the suspected shooter had been involved in an ongoing disagreement with the apartment building’s homeowners association and was also a member of the gym where the attack began.
The New York Post identified the suspected gunman as Dr. Matt Lambert, an emergency physician and medical technology executive who reportedly owned a condominium in the building.
According to the outlet, Lambert had filed a lawsuit against the condominium association in March 2025, alleging that building repair work caused water intrusion, mold, and other problems inside his residence.
Investigators are examining whether that dispute was connected to the shooting, although authorities have not established a definitive motive.
A local council member also indicated that preliminary information suggested the gunman may have targeted a specific individual at the gym, but police have not publicly confirmed the identities of the victims or whether any of them were connected to the property dispute.
The shooting sent shock waves through Logan Circle, a bustling neighborhood filled with restaurants, apartment buildings, shops, and fitness centers.
Police blocked surrounding streets as emergency vehicles crowded the area, while federal agents and specialized law enforcement units assisted with the response.
Authorities eventually lifted the shelter-in-place order after confirming the suspected gunman was dead and the immediate threat had ended.
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