Gunman in D.C. Gym Shooting Was Condo Owner in Mold Dispute, Police Say

Police now say the man who killed a building manager at a VIDA Fitness gym in Washington's Logan Circle neighborhood on Thursday was a resident locked in a long legal fight over mold and water damage in his penthouse. According to ABC11 News, interim Metropolitan Police Chief Jeffery Carroll identified the suspect as Matt Lambert, 55, a doctor, and said he killed himself in his apartment after a standoff.

The victim killed inside the ground-floor gym was James Stuart, 46, the building manager, Carroll said. Four other people were wounded, and one of them remained in critical condition by late afternoon.

Who were the suspect and the victim?

Carroll said Lambert shot and killed Stuart in the gym around 8 a.m. and then shot four more people from his condo patio, armed with three guns. Three of those four had injuries that were not life-threatening. Carroll said the whole episode took place in less than five minutes.

Earlier reporting from The Advocate said police believed the suspect was a gym member and had been in a conflict with the building's homeowners' association. Lambert's lawyer said he had lived in the seventh-floor unit since 2017, and online property records show he bought it in September 2016 for nearly $1.1 million, according to ABC11.

What was the dispute behind the shooting?

Court records show Lambert was in contentious litigation with building management over mold, moisture and water problems in his unit. He alleged he had been unable to enjoy the penthouse since 2024 and said the problems began after a contractor worked on the building's exterior. The case was still ongoing, according to filings.

Carroll said investigators believe the shooting is related to the long-running maintenance dispute. Earlier in the day, he had told reporters that police did not yet know the motive, according to The Advocate.

Lambert appeared to run an X account where he posted photos and an engineering report about his condo, and the report was described online as his manifesto, according to ABC11. A Washington Sun reporter, Michael Brice-Saddler, wrote that he interviewed Lambert last year and that Lambert had told another resident he knew Stuart's morning routine at the gym.

What do witnesses and Lambert's lawyer say?

James Spellman, who was in the gym, said about 50 people were there when the shooting began and that a man fell to the ground within seconds. Anthony Mirones said he was in the cardio area and thought something had fallen off a wall. He said a fire alarm went off and many people ran, stepping over the body.

Lambert's lawyer, Joel Braithwaite, said he was deeply shaken and saddened. He said the condo's conditions made it resemble a war zone and that Lambert had spent more than $300,000 on the lawsuit. Braithwaite added that he could not offer the public “closure.”

What else happened in the building?

Carroll said Lambert cut a natural gas line to his fireplace and started a fire, which set off the sprinklers and was quickly contained. Police negotiators had spoken with him for more than an hour, according to The Advocate, before they heard a gunshot and he stopped responding. Officers then forced entry and found him wounded. He fired through his apartment door at officers at least twice, Carroll said.

What does this mean for the neighborhood and gym members?

Much of the 15th Street Northwest block was cordoned off during the incident, and schools were locked down, according to ABC11. The area includes the gym, a church, residences and a Whole Foods store. VIDA said its Logan Circle location will stay closed until further notice and asked members to avoid the gym and surrounding area.

Mayor Muriel Bowser said she was devastated and called the killing “a senseless act of gun violence.” She said she briefed the White House.

What happens next?

Investigators are still working out the sequence of events and where each victim was struck, Carroll said, and the circumstances of the fire remain under investigation. Police asked anyone who witnessed the shootings, including people who left the area, to call 202-727-9099.

Earlier on Around Prague: Five Shot Near Logan Circle Gym in D.C.; Gunman Later Found Dead

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Around Prague, based on reporting by Advocate.com, ABC11 News