Doctor Identified as Gunman in Washington, D.C., Gym Shooting That Left 2 Dead
Two people are dead, including the gunman, and four others are injured after a shooting Thursday morning at a gym in Washington, D.C.'s Logan Circle neighborhood. Police said the gunman killed one person inside the VIDA Fitness gym, then kept shooting outside before barricading himself inside an apartment, where he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to multiple law enforcement sources.
One of the injured victims remains in critical condition, police said.
How the Shooting Unfolded
The first call for help came in around 8 a.m. from people inside the VIDA Fitness gym in Logan Circle, about a mile north of the White House, according to NPR.
The gunman shot one person inside the gym, then left and kept firing outside, including into a parking garage, law enforcement sources told CNN.
He then barricaded himself inside a seventh-floor apartment in a building next to the gym, leading to a standoff with police. Interim Metropolitan Police Chief Jeff Carroll said negotiators spoke with the gunman for about an hour in an effort to end the standoff, but the shooter fired his weapon at officers.
Officers later heard a gunshot, entered the apartment and found the gunman dead.
Four people who were wounded were taken to local hospitals. One is in critical condition, while the other three "appear to have non-life-threatening injuries," police said.
Witnesses Describe Terrifying Moments
Gym member Sahil Kapoor told CNN he was walking down the stairs inside the multi-level gym when he heard a gunshot. At the bottom of the stairs, he saw a wounded man in a seating area near the cardio section.
"I usually sit in those chairs before I have a training session," Kapoor said. "If I had taken five or six more steps, I would have been right there." He added, "To hear a gunshot within feet of you, it just stuns you."
Anthony Mirones was on a treadmill when he heard what he described as a "loud bang." At first, he thought "a bouncy ball popped or a painting [fell] on the floor." When he went to look, he saw a man on the floor who was "not moving at all."
After a fire alarm sounded, people began evacuating. Mirones said he heard more gunshots outside and ran to take shelter in a coffee shop. He described the experience as "surreal."
Victoria Stafford was in a yoga class when she heard an "incredibly loud noise." Her instructor paused the class, and she and others crowded into a laundry room while gym workers barricaded the door.
"You're in that room for so long every moment feels like an eternity," she said. She later saw the victim on the floor. "All I could think in that moment was wow there is a person just like myself who is trying to get their morning gym session in, who has a family, who has loved ones," she said.
Residents Evacuated at Gunpoint
Charles Webb, who lives in the building where the gunman barricaded himself, said he heard a fire alarm and then noticed water coming through his ceiling. The hallway was flooded and the lights were off.
Police then opened his door "with guns drawn" and told him to leave immediately. Officers had him evacuate through the stairwell with his hands raised. "It was really terrifying," Webb said.
Suspect Identified as Doctor in Condo Dispute
The gunman has been identified as Dr. Matt Lambert, according to two federal law enforcement officials, NBC News reported. Lambert is a board-certified emergency physician, according to his website, and lived in a penthouse unit at the Metropole Condos, the building above VIDA Fitness.
Interim Police Chief Jeff Carroll did not name the suspect but said police believe there was "a conflict between him and the homeowner's association of this building."
In March 2025, Lambert sued the condo association in D.C. Superior Court, alleging that facade work caused water to leak into his unit and led to more than $100,000 in damages, City Cast DC reported. He said he found black mold in the unit, had not lived there since November 2024 and sought $1 million. The association could not be reached for comment.
The person killed inside the gym has not been publicly identified. Some outlets have reported that the victim was the building's manager, though police have not confirmed that. Construction workers outside were among those wounded.
Mayor Muriel Bowser said the White House has been briefed on the shooting. The ATF's Washington Field Division was also on the scene assisting police, according to CBS News.
A shelter-in-place order for the area around the 1500 block of 15th Street NW has since been lifted. Police said residents and businesses "may resume normal activity" but should follow instructions from public safety officials in the area.
An emergency reception center was set up at Stead Park on 17th and P streets NW.
VIDA Fitness' Logan Circle location is "temporarily closed," according to company president Aaron Moore.
The investigation is ongoing.
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