Washington gym shooting leaves one victim dead, four injured; gunman dies after standoff

A gunman killed one person and injured four others at and around a Washington gym on Thursday morning before dying from a self-inflicted gunshot wound following a police standoff, authorities said.

The shooting began shortly before 8 am at a Vida Fitness gym in the Logan Circle neighborhood, triggering a major emergency response and precautionary lockdowns at nearby schools.

One of the four injured people was in critical condition. The other three suffered injuries that were not considered life-threatening.

Witnesses described scenes of panic as gym-goers fled or sought cover. James Spellman, who said he was inside with about 50 other people, recalled seeing a man collapse after being shot in the neck.

The gunman reportedly continued firing in areas outside the gym, including an elevator in an underground parking garage, before fleeing to a nearby residential building.

Washington’s acting police chief, Jeffrey Carroll, said the suspect barricaded himself in a seventh-floor apartment and fired through the door at responding officers.

Police negotiated with him for more than an hour before he shot himself, authorities said. No officers were injured.

Investigators are examining a dispute between the suspect and his building’s homeowners’ association as a possible motive. Carroll confirmed that a conflict existed but did not explain its nature or establish a connection to the shooting.

Authorities had not released the names of the gunman or the victims.

Police closed several streets and instructed residents to remain indoors during the operation. The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives assisted in the response.

The shooting occurred while Washington remained under heightened security measures introduced by President Donald Trump in August 2025, including the deployment of hundreds of National Guard members as part of an effort to combat crime in the capital.