A gunman died by suicide after barricading himself inside his luxury apartment Thursday morning, following a shooting at a gym less than a mile from the White House that left one person dead and four others injured.
Dr. Matt Lambert, 55, was identified as the shooter by two federal law enforcement officials who spoke to NBC News.
Lambert shot a male victim in the back inside VIDA Fitness in Logan Circle at about 8 a.m. Police said Lambert is believed to have been a member of the gym.
He continued firing before barricading himself inside his seventh-floor apartment at 1515 15th Street, directly above the fitness center.
Officers entered the building, where Lambert reportedly fired twice at police through the apartment door.
Negotiators spent roughly an hour speaking with him through the door before authorities heard a gunshot.
When officers entered the apartment, they found Lambert suffering from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Officials said Lambert had been involved in a dispute with his homeowners association before the shooting. Councilwoman Brooke Pinto told Fox 5 that the victim was the building’s manager.
‘We do know there was a conflict between him and the homeowners association of that building, but at this point we’re continuing to look into that,’ Metropolitan Police Chief Jeffery W. Carroll said during a press conference.
Dr. Matt Lambert, 55, was identified as the shooter by two law enforcement officials who spoke to NBC News. He died after an hour-long standoff with police, following a shooting at a nearby gym that left one person dead and four injured
Gymgoers stood behind a police barricade Thursday morning as officers worked to locate the shooter
Councilwoman Brooke Pinto said: ‘It’s so sad and so senseless to kill someone over a dispute that should be worked out reasonably.’
Pinto appeared to suggest that the male victim had been targeted because of the dispute involving the homeowners association.
The fitness center is located less than a mile from the White House. A video posted to X appeared to show White House officials watching coverage of the shooting inside the building.
VIDA Fitness said the Logan Circle location would ‘remain closed until further notice.’
‘The safety and well-being of our members, guests, and team are our highest priorities. We ask that you avoid traveling to the Logan Circle location and surrounding area until further notice. If you are currently in the vicinity, please follow all instructions from local law enforcement.’
Gymgoers were escorted from the facility with their hands raised and later seen gathered behind a police barricade.
Police urged the public to avoid the 1500 block of 15th Street while the scene remained active. The area includes St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, the Edlavitch DC Jewish Community Center, shops, restaurants and apartment buildings.
Several streets were closed during the extensive police response. The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said it sent agents to assist at the scene.
A male victim died after being shot inside VIDA Fitness in Logan Circle on Thursday. Police said the suspect was believed to be a member of the gym
National Guard members were seen on a balcony of a nearby building across from the apartment where the shooter was barricaded
Police said the gunman spoke with negotiators for roughly an hour before they heard a gunshot. When officers entered the apartment, they found the suspect with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Police confirmed to Our News Outlet that he later died
The shooting happened less than a mile from the White House
One gymgoer described the scene inside the facility as ‘horrific,’ saying people could not leave the area where the shooter was located without passing him.
She said a man near her was shot as she walked on a treadmill.
Max Smith told NBC Washington that he left his apartment after a fire alarm sounded. Once residents reached the street, they heard gunfire.
‘Everyone starts sprinting,’ he told the outlet.
Smith said he heard at least three or four gunshots and that at least 10 people took shelter inside the bathroom of Call Your Mother deli.
‘I’m very shaken up, you don’t expect it,’ he told the outlet.
Oscar Vasquez, a manager at Call Your Mother, told NBC Washington that he heard fire alarms sounding nearby.
A law enforcement officer works at the scene
Officials said the suspect had been involved in a dispute with his homeowners association before the shooting. Pictured: the scene
VIDA Fitness remained closed and under lockdown until further notice. Pictured: the scene
Several minutes later, employees heard ‘loud, aggressive gunshots.’
‘We saw people running in. The whole team came inside, we tried to get as many people that were running out into the [deli] building. After that, we locked all the doors, cops told us not to let anybody in, and we stayed very away from the windows,’ he told the outlet.
In November, two National Guard soldiers were shot nearby while serving on duty near the White House. Sarah Beckstrom was killed, while Andrew Wolfe suffered serious injuries.
The alleged shooter was identified as Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal. The shooting is being investigated as a possible act of terrorism. Lakanwal has been indicted and remains in federal custody.
