One person died and four others were wounded in a shooting in the Logan Circle area of Washington. The suspect, who barricaded himself in a residential building after the attack, took his own life during a police operation.
This was reported by Associated Press, citing the leadership of the capital police.
The shooting occurred on Thursday morning, November 12, at about 8:00 a.m. local time, in the Logan Circle area, approximately 1.6 kilometers from the White House.
According to police, an armed man first opened fire at the VIDA Fitness sports club, where he fatally wounded one of the visitors. He then left the premises and wounded four more people.
Acting Chief of the Metropolitan Police Jeffrey Carroll confirmed the death of a man at the fitness center. One of the four injured is in critical condition; the injuries of the other three are not life-threatening.
Witness James Spellman told reporters that about 50 people were in the gym at the time of the attack. After the first shots, visitors began leaving the premises. Another witness said he initially thought the loud sound was a heavy object falling.
After the attack, the suspect hid in his apartment on the seventh floor of a nearby residential building. Police cordoned off the area and dispatched a SWAT special unit to the building.
Carroll reported that law enforcement officers managed to establish phone contact with the armed man. Negotiations began, but later a shot was heard from the apartment.
When police entered, they found the suspect with a gunshot wound which, according to preliminary data, he had inflicted on himself. The man died at the scene.
According to Associated Press, law enforcement officers have tentatively identified the attacker. He was Dr. Matt Lambert, who was involved in a protracted dispute with the management company of the residential complex.
According to court documents, in 2025 Lambert filed a lawsuit claiming that since 2024 he had been unable to fully use his apartment due to problems with mold, dampness, and leaks. The litigation was ongoing, and negotiations for a possible settlement were scheduled for March of the following year.
Police are investigating a possible connection between the dispute and the circumstances of the shooting, but the motive for the attack has not yet been officially established. The identity of the deceased gym visitor has also not been released.
Because of the incident, law enforcement cordoned off several streets in downtown Washington. Nearby schools temporarily restricted entry and exit, and residents of the area were urged to stay indoors.
Local police officers and federal law enforcement personnel participated in the operation.
Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser expressed condolences to the family of the deceased and called the incident a senseless act of gun violence.
Investigators are continuing to determine the circumstances of the attack and the suspectâs possible connection to the victims.
