Doctor shoots four after killing gym patron in Washington
Matt Lambert killed one man and wounded four others in Logan Circle before ending his standoff in his own apartment.
By Nadia Rahman ·
Five people were shot in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, with one victim dying at a local fitness center and the suspect killing himself while hiding in his penthouse.
The violence began around 8 a.m. in the Logan Circle neighborhood, approximately one mile north of the White House. Interim Metropolitan Police Chief Jeffery Carroll stated that one man died at VIDA Fitness and another victim remained in critical condition. Carroll confirmed that the suspect fatally shot himself while holed up in his apartment, where he had been speaking with police negotiators by phone.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene inside the gym, which held about 50 people during the morning workout session. James Spellman, who was present, said a man fell to the ground and died instantly after being shot in the neck. Anthony Mirones, located in the cardio area, heard a loud bang and a fire alarm go off, forcing runners to step over the body of the deceased man.
Nearby resident Ryan Dubicki, an employee for the Associated Press, reported hearing about five distinct bangs from his apartment. He initially believed the sounds were construction noise until officers arrived in large numbers. Police cordoned off much of 15th Street Northwest, locking down schools and urging residents to avoid the area, which includes St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and a Whole Foods store.
Authorities preliminarily identified the shooter as Matt Lambert, a doctor involved in a legal dispute with his building management. Court records show Lambert filed a lawsuit last year, claiming he had been unable to use his seventh-floor penthouse since 2024 due to mold, moisture, and water damage. He alleged these issues began after a contractor worked on the building’s exterior. Mediation for the case is scheduled for March.
Lambert had documented his complaints on an X account titled OfMiceandMold, sharing photos and an engineering report regarding the unit’s condition. Mayor Muriel Bowser described the incident as a senseless act of gun violence that left her devastated.
Police officers and SWAT teams positioned themselves on the roof of an apartment building and on the street below during the search. The deployment of officers follows the city's ongoing federal control, which began in August 2025 after a carjacking attempt on a former government official in the same neighborhood.
