A doctor identified as Matt Lambert was responsible for a shooting at a gym in Washington, D.C., on Thursday morning that left 1 person dead and 4 others injured before he barricaded himself inside an apartment and fatally shot himself, officials said.
The shooting happened shortly before 8 a.m. at VIDA Fitness in the 1500 block of 15th Street NW, in the Logan Circle neighborhood. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers arrived within about 30 seconds.
One person was found dead inside the gym, while 4 others were located nearby and taken to hospitals. One victim was in critical condition, while the other 3 suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
Federal law enforcement officials identified the gunman as Dr. Matt Lambert, an emergency room physician who lived in the apartment building above the gym and was also a member of the fitness center, according to the New York Post.
Investigators are examining a possible connection to a dispute between Lambert and the building’s homeowners association (HOA). A local council member said preliminary information indicated that the shooting targeted someone involved in an ongoing legal dispute with Lambert over a condominium issue.
After the shooting, Lambert allegedly returned to his apartment and barricaded himself inside. Authorities also believe he set parts of the building on fire, triggering alarms and sprinklers.
Police negotiators communicated with him for more than an hour before officers heard a gunshot. They later entered the apartment and found Lambert dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The fire was extinguished, and authorities said there was no longer a threat to the public. The FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) assisted with the investigation.