WASHINGTON — A gunman shot five people at a fitness center in Washington, D.C.’s Logan Circle neighborhood on Thursday morning, killing one and wounding four others before barricading himself in an apartment and dying from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police confirmed.
The incident unfolded near the 1500 block of 15th Street NW, approximately one mile north of the White House, during the morning rush hour. Authorities responded to multiple locations, including the VIDA Fitness gym, where the first victim was found dead at the scene. Four others were transported to local hospitals, with one in critical condition. Police identified the gunman as a white male but did not release his name.
Police response and containment
Law enforcement agencies, including the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), SWAT teams, and federal agencies such as the FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), secured the area. Streets were cordoned off, and nearby schools were placed on temporary lockdown. Witnesses reported hearing multiple gunshots around 8 a.m. ET, with some mistaking the sounds for construction before realizing an active shooter situation was unfolding.
Interim MPD Chief Jeffery Carroll stated that the gunman had fired at least twice at police through his apartment door before taking his own life. Negotiators had been communicating with the suspect for over an hour when a gunshot was heard, prompting officers to force entry and find the suspect deceased. Carroll noted that the gunman had been in "some sort of a conflict" with the homeowners association of his apartment building.
Victims and witness accounts
One witness, Ryan Dubicki, said he was in his apartment when he heard about five loud bangs, initially assuming they were construction noises. He later saw police officers swarming the area and received a notice from his building’s management warning of a possible active shooter. Another witness, James Spellman, described chaos at the gym, where a man was shot and killed instantly. Gym-goers fled to nearby businesses, including a bagel shop, as more gunfire was reported outside.
Mayor Muriel Bowser condemned the shooting as a "senseless act of gun violence" and confirmed that the White House had been briefed on the incident. The federal Bureau of Prisons also responded to the scene as part of the broader law enforcement effort.
Ongoing investigation
Police have not disclosed the identities of the victims or the suspect, nor have they confirmed the type of firearm used. The investigation remains active, with authorities reviewing surveillance footage and interviewing witnesses. Carroll emphasized that the motive behind the shooting is still under investigation, and it is unclear whether the gunman and victims were acquainted.
The Logan Circle neighborhood, known for its upscale residential and commercial areas, was locked down for several hours as authorities cleared the scene. The incident has reignited discussions about gun violence and public safety in the nation’s capital.