Five people were shot, including one who died, at and outside a gym in Washington, D.C.’s Logan Circle neighborhood on Thursday morning, police said.
The suspect barricaded himself in an apartment building above the gym before shooting himself, police said.
Jeffery Carroll, Interim Chief of Police of the Metropolitan Police Department, said at a news conference that there were five victims. One is deceased, one is in critical condition and three have non-life-threatening injuries.
Carroll said police received a call for the shooting inside Logan Circle’s Vida Fitness just before 8 a.m. and that authorities responded within 30 seconds.
The person who was killed was shot in the gym. Other victims included members of a construction crew across the street and a person in the lobby or alley outside the gym, Carroll said.
Carroll said the suspect is a White man. He said police know the man’s identity but did not publicly share it. Carroll said an investigation into the suspect’s motive is ongoing, but said police are aware that he had a conflict with the apartment building’s homeowners association. The man is believed to be a member of the gym, Carroll said.
CBS News national security correspondent Nicole Sganga says it appears the suspect opened fire outside the Vida Fitness gym around 8:20 a.m., then entered the facility where they continued to shoot, then retreated into a parking garage and ascended into the apartment building before barricading themselves on the seventh floor.
Gunshots continued to be heard for the better part of two hours, while officers with the Metro Police Department negotiated with the suspect. Carroll said the suspect fired through the apartment door at police on two occasions. While on the phone with negotiators, the suspect shot himself, Carroll said.
Carroll did not say where the suspect shot himself or what his current condition is.
Residents have been asked to avoid the area, which is about one mile north of the White House. Several streets have been closed, and a shelter-in-place order has been issued. Helicopters could be seen overhead.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms said its Washington Bureau was at the scene and assisting. The Federal Bureau of Investigation said its Washington field office was also aiding the MPD.
The Secret Service, U.S. Marshals and U.S. Park Police were also responding to the scene. There are no Secret Service protectees involved. The agency and FBI responded because of their proximity to the incident, not because of any connection to the White House.
Witnesses describe “horrific” scene
Witness Jennifer Christine said she was on a treadmill in the gym when she heard shots ring out. She said she witnessed one death inside the gym before leaving the building and taking shelter in a local bagel shop.
“There was no way of getting out of the gym other than going past that scene,” Christine told reporters. “It was like chaos. It was horrific, honestly.”
Another witness told reporters that he was also on a treadmill when he heard a loud bang. He first thought the sound was a ball popping or something falling to the floor. Then he saw blood on the floor. An alarm went off, and the gym was evacuated, he said. The witness said he and other gym attendees ran outside, where police were already gathered. Then, more shots were fired.
“We all just started running and people are scattering everywhere,” the witness said.
Witness Max Smith told media that he heard multiple shots around 8:30 a.m. He said he and about 10 other bystanders also took shelter in the bagel shop.
“I’m very shaken up,” Smith said. “You know, you don’t expect it.”
