The suspect in a shooting in Washington, D.C., reportedly shot and killed himself Thursday morning after barricading himself in an apartment building.
The over hour-long standoff with police occurred after the gunman allegedly shot at least five people, killing one, inside and in the vicinity of the nearby Vida Fitness gym located in Logan Circle, about a mile north of the White House.
DC’s Metropolitan Police Department interim chief of police Jeffery W. Carroll told reporters after the incident that his negotiators were able to make contact with the suspect inside the apartment complex.
“Just moments ago, while communicating with that individual, officers heard a gunshot. As a response to that, officers forced entry into the apartment,” Carroll said.
“When they did that, they located the suspect suffering from a gunshot wound,” he added.
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Fox News reported that the suspect is now dead, based on two unnamed officers briefed on the situation. The gunman, a white male, fired on officers within the apartment building.
Of the four living victims who sustained injuries during the incident, one is in critical condition, but the other three appear to have non-life-threatening injuries, Carroll said.
Witness Anthony Mirones told Fox, “I was at the treadmill at Vida, and five minutes in, I hear a loud bang … and this dude was on the floor, and somebody says, who was closer to the body, ’he’s dead.’”
“I heard a loud bang, and then I see blood on the floor, I’m connecting the dots. Two minutes later, there’s a fire alarm, people started evacuating.” Mirones added.
Once he was outside the gym, Mirones recounted that gunshots could be heard and “people started scattering everywhere.”
Carroll noted that the gunman appeared to have some conflict with the homeowners association of the building.
The police chief also confirmed there had been a fire at the location earlier in the morning that the gunman may have set.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said after Carroll spoke, “We’re devastated. Someone was killed in our city this morning, a senseless act of gun violence.”
“I know many D.C. residents were awakened to this news, and were very scared, and listened to all of the directives that MPD provided, so we’re grateful to them as well. MPD will continue to investigate this situation, but this lone gunman has been contained,” the mayor added.
Bowser noted that the White House had been briefed on the incident.
Vida’s president, Aaron Moore, told Fox that the gym will be shut down until further notice.
In a message to members, the gym said, “We will provide updates as more information becomes available and it is safe and appropriate to do so. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation during this difficult time.”
This article originally appeared on The Western Journal and is reposted with permission.
