Editorial note — Updated: This follow-up report adds police identification of the shooter as Matt Lambert and of the man killed as James Stuart, the building’s property manager, and police confirmation that the barricade has been lifted and the scene is safe. Virginia Times published its first report on the shooting earlier Thursday morning.
WASHINGTON — Police have identified the shooter in Thursday morning’s Logan Circle shooting as Matt Lambert and the man killed as James Stuart, authorities said in an update reported by The Washington Sun.
Stuart was the property manager of the building where the shooting took place, authorities said. Five people were shot at and near the VIDA Fitness gym in Logan Circle, police said. One victim died and another was critically injured.
Police confirmed that Lambert, who they believe was a member of the gym, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was found in an apartment on the seventh floor of the same building, Metropolitan Police Department Interim Chief Jeffery Carroll said at a morning news conference.
Officers spoke with the suspect for around an hour in the apartment. During that time he fired through the door at police “at least twice,” Carroll said, before officers forced their way in.
Police found three guns — a handgun, a shotgun and a rifle — in the suspect’s home, according to a police spokesperson. It remains unclear exactly which gun or guns were used when, the spokesperson said.
Though police are “very early” into their investigation, Carroll said they believe it stemmed from a conflict.
“We do know there was a conflict between him and the homeowners association of that building,” Carroll said. “We’re continuing to look into that.”
Ward 2 Councilmember Brooke Pinto told NBC4 that the suspect set fire to parts of the building and then targeted his first victim, who was someone he was in active litigation with. Carroll confirmed there had been a fire, but it was put out.
Police say the scene is now safe and that the barricade of the 1500 block of 15th Street Northwest has been lifted. Significant traffic closures are still in place, and the public is cautioned to avoid the area. The VIDA location will be closed until further notice, the company said.
Four victims were transported by D.C. Fire and Emergency Medical Services to local hospitals, Fire and EMS Chief John Donnelly said. Three of them have non-life-threatening injuries.
Police received a first report of the shooting just before 8 a.m., and had officers dispatched and on scene within 30 seconds, Carroll said.
A shelter-in-place order was issued for the immediate area just before 9 a.m. Multiple local schools were placed on alert status. That alert status was lifted at 11:15 a.m. after D.C. Public Schools received an “all-clear” from the Metropolitan Police Department.
“We’re devastated. Someone was killed in our city this morning. A senseless act of gun violence,” Mayor Muriel Bowser said at the news conference. “I am very grateful to MPD and Fire and EMS who responded immediately, quickly, and contained this situation.”
Also Read: Logan Circle Suspect Dies After Shooting Himself During Barricade