One person has been killed and four others injured after a gunman opened fire at and around a fitness centre in Washington, D.C., on Thursday morning, November 12, 2026.

The suspected shooter later suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound while barricaded inside a nearby apartment building, according to Metropolitan Police Department interim chief Jeffery Carroll.

The violence unfolded shortly after 8 a.m. in Logan Circle, a busy residential and commercial neighbourhood approximately one mile north of the White House.

Officers initially responded to reports of an active shooting near 15th and P Streets NW, where witnesses described gunfire inside the VIDA Fitness gym followed by further shots outside.

What happened inside the Washington gym?

According to The Associated Press, approximately 50 people were inside VIDA Fitness when the shooting began.

Witness James Spellman described seeing a man collapse after being shot in the neck. Another gym member attempted to help the victim as those nearby rushed towards the exits.

Spellman reported hearing approximately two gunshots inside the gym, followed by several more outside.

Other witnesses described people fleeing into nearby businesses for shelter as armed officers arrived and began securing the surrounding streets.

Investigators believe the gunman shot at least one person inside the gym before continuing the attack outside. A law enforcement official told the AP that another person was shot in a parking garage elevator.

Authorities have not publicly established whether the victims were deliberately targeted or caught in the attack.

Suspect suffers self-inflicted gunshot wound during police operation

After the initial shootings, the suspect reportedly entered a residential building above the gym and barricaded himself inside a seventh-floor apartment.

Specialist police officers surrounded the building, while tactical teams took positions on nearby rooftops.

During a subsequent police briefing, interim chief Carroll confirmed that the suspect had shot himself while barricaded inside the apartment.

Police also disclosed that the man had apparently been involved in a dispute with the building's homeowners association. However, investigators have not established whether that disagreement was connected to the shootings.

The suspect's identity and the circumstances surrounding the attack remained under investigation.

Five victims confirmed as schools and streets face restrictions

Early reports differed on the number of people shot. NBC Washington reported five victims, including one person killed and four others taken to hospital. The suspected gunman also suffered a gunshot wound.

Authorities issued shelter-in-place instructions for the immediate area, urging residents to remain indoors and stay away from windows while officers responded.

Several nearby schools were placed on alert status. According to local broadcaster 7News, the restrictions prevented people from entering or leaving affected school buildings.

Police also closed surrounding streets, disrupting traffic and public transport services in the neighbourhood.

The FBI and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives joined local authorities in responding to the incident.

Although the shooting occurred relatively close to the White House, CBS News reported that the Secret Service response was linked to the agency's proximity to the scene, rather than any identified threat involving a Secret Service protectee.

The investigation is continuing, with authorities yet to publicly establish a motive or explain the full sequence of events that led to the shooting.