A Washington, DC, gunman killed himself while barricaded inside his luxury apartment after opening fire at a nearby gym on Thursday morning, killing one and injuring four others.
A male victim died after being shot in the back inside VIDA Fitness in Logan Circle. The suspect is believed to be a member of the gym, police said.
At least one of the injured is in critical condition, while three others sustained non-life-threatening injuries, police said at a late morning news conference, shortly after the shooter turned the gun on himself.
Police found him barricaded inside a 15th Street apartment after the shooting, where negotiators spoke with him for roughly an hour before they heard a gunshot.
Police forced themselves into the building, where the man reportedly shot at police twice through the door. Once inside, authorities found the man with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The shooter, who authorities did not identify, has since died, police confirmed to the Daily Mail.
Officials said the suspect had a conflict with his HOA prior to the shooting.
'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 at a press conference.
A Washington, DC, gunman killed himself after an hour-long standoff with police. He barricaded himself in an apartment after killing a man at a nearby gym and injuring four others
Gymgoers were seen standing behind a barricade on Thursday morning as police work to find 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 seemed to allude that the male victim was targeted by the suspect over the HOA dispute.
The fitness center is less than one mile from the White House. A video posted to X appeared to show White House officials watching the shooting coverage inside the building.
VIDA Fitness will 'remain closed until further notice,' it said in a statement.
'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 out of the gym with their hands up and were seen standing behind a police barricade afterward.
Police urged people to avoid the area of the 1500 block of 15th Street, which also includes St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Edlavitch DC Jewish Community Center, shops, restaurants and apartment buildings, while the scene was still active.
Streets around the area were blocked off during a massive police response to the scene. The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said it sent agents to the scene to help.
A male victim died after being shot inside VIDA Fitness in Logan Circle on Thursday. The suspect is believed to be a member of the gym, police said
National Guard members were seen on the a balcony of nearby building across from where the shooter was barricaded
Police said at a press conference that the gunman spoke with negotiators were roughly an hour before they heard a gunshot. When they burst into the apartment, the suspect was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He has since died, police confirmed to the Daily Mail
The shooting occurred less than a mile from the White House
A gymgoer said the scene inside the gym was 'horrific' and people were unable to escape the area where the shooter was without passing him.
She said a man near her was shot while she was walking on the treadmill.
Max Smith told NBC Washington that he left his apartment after a fire alarm went off. But when residents got outside, more shots were heard.
'Everyone starts sprinting,' he told the outlet.
Smith said he heard at least three to four gunshots and said 10 people barricaded themselves inside a bagel shop bathroom.
'I'm very shaken up, you don't expect it,' he told the outlet.
It is unclear whether Smith's apartment building is the same one the gunman was holed up in.
Oscar Vasquez, a manager at the Call Your Mother deli, said he heard fire alarms going off nearby, he told NBC Washington.
A law enforcement officer is pictured working the scene
Officials said the suspect had a conflict with his HOA prior to the shooting. Pictured: the scene
VIDA Fitness remains on lockdown and is closed until further notice. Pictured: the scene
A few 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.
Last November, two National Guard soldiers were shot nearby while on duty near the White House. Sarah Beckstrom was killed and Andrew Wolfe was seriously injured.
The alleged shooter was identified as Afghan national Rahmanullah Lakanwal, and the shooting is being investigated as a possible act of terror. Lakanwal has been indicted and remains in federal custody.