A shooting at a VIDA Fitness gym in Logan Circle in Northwest Washington, D.C., on Thursday morning left one person dead and four others injured, police said, and ended with the suspect dead by suicide after a standoff in a nearby apartment building.
The Metropolitan Police Department received a report of a shooting just before 8 a.m. ET in the 1500 block of 15th Street NW, inside the gym. Interim Police Chief Jeffery Carroll said officers were dispatched and arrived within 30 seconds. They found an adult male who had been shot, then received multiple additional calls about gunfire and more victims.
Four people were shot and taken to hospitals, Carroll said. A fifth person died at the scene. One of those transported was in critical condition. Police described the suspect as a white male and said he was a member of VIDA Fitness, the gym where the shooting occurred. At a morning press conference, authorities said the suspect had been contained; shortly afterward, police confirmed he had been pronounced dead at the scene.
Suspect barricaded on seventh floor
As officers canvassed the area and began clearing the building where the shootings took place, Carroll said gunshots rang out on the seventh floor of an apartment building on the block. “When officers got on the scene, they began canvassing, attempting to locate the suspect in this case,” Carroll said. “While they were on the scene, they were able to begin to clear the building where the shootings occurred.” Police determined the suspect had barricaded himself inside an apartment there. An emergency response team and additional resources from federal partners went to the scene.
Negotiators with the emergency response team made contact with the suspect and spoke with him for more than an hour in an effort to resolve the situation, Carroll said. “They’ve been talking to him for over the past hour, again attempting to try to resolve the situation,” he said. “Just moments ago, while communicating with that individual, officers heard a gunshot.” Officers forced entry into the apartment and found the suspect suffering from a gunshot wound. Police later confirmed he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Carroll said officers were still evaluating the building to ensure it was fully cleared. Police later said the scene was safe but urged the public to avoid the area.
Investigators said they believe the suspect was in “some sort of a conflict with the apartment building, but we don’t have much more than that,” Carroll said. Police said they know that at least at one point the shooter had a handgun, but they did not know whether other weapons were involved.
Witness describes confusion and evacuation
Anthony Mirones, 23, was at VIDA Fitness that morning and on a treadmill when he heard the first loud bang at about 8 a.m. He saw a man lying dead on the floor with blood nearby. “Everyone’s confused. I’m confused,” Mirones said. He first wondered whether a painting had fallen.
Mirones went toward the noise and saw someone on the ground. A person standing closer to the body looked back and told him the man was dead. “So I come a little closer and I see body on floor, some blood,” he said. “I’m thinking about the loud bangs. I’m like, ‘Gunshot.’” A woman tried to give first aid but stopped almost immediately, he said. Mirones believed the man’s wound was to his upper body, near his neck.
Soon the fire alarm went off and people began to evacuate. Mirones said people in the cardio area had to step over the body to exit. Outside, at the entrance, police officers rushed in. “One police officer unholsters his gun, and then another police officer is asking for a description of the assailant,” Mirones said. While another witness was describing the assailant, Mirones said he heard five or so gunshots, and then everyone scattered and ran.
Gym closed as officials respond
VIDA Fitness told members in an email that the Logan Circle club was “currently closed as is the surrounding area.” The message urged people not to travel to the Logan Circle area and said the gym would send a more detailed message once more information was available.
The gym confirmed in a social media statement that its Logan Circle location was temporarily closed and would remain closed until further notice. “The safety and well-being of our members, guests and team are our highest priority,” the statement said. “We ask that you avoid traveling to the Logan Circle location and surrounding area until further notice.” It added that its thoughts were with everyone affected and that the news may be deeply concerning to the VIDA community.
Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser called the shooting a “senseless act of gun violence” at the news conference and confirmed that the White House had been briefed. Several schools in the area were placed under “alert status” as public safety teams continued responding to the incident.