One killed, four injured as gunman opens fire near White House in Washington
By Kazeem Ugbodaga
A gunman has reportedly killed at least one person and injured four others in a shooting incident in Washington, DC, triggering a massive police operation in the upscale Logan Circle neighbourhood, less than a mile from the White House.
The shooting occurred around 8 a.m. on Thursday, November 12, at and around VIDA Fitness, a gym located in the 1500 block of 15th Street Northwest.
The incident prompted an emergency response from the Metropolitan Police Department, with heavily armed officers deployed across the neighbourhood as authorities searched for the suspected gunman.
DC Councilwoman Brooke Pinto confirmed the shooting in a post on X, warning residents and visitors to stay away from the area.
” Shootings at and outside VIDA Fitness this morning in Logan Circle. Multiple people shot. Do not go to this area. Police looking for suspect,” she wrote.
Police subsequently announced that the incident had developed into a barricade situation, with the suspect believed to be inside a nearby building.
According to Reuters, the gunman had not been taken into custody as of Thursday afternoon, while police continued efforts to contain the situation.
The Washington Post reported that law enforcement officers in tactical gear had taken positions on the roof of the nearby Metropole condominium building, where authorities believed the suspect was barricaded.
The newspaper also reported that smoke was seen coming from the building’s upper floors, although the circumstances surrounding it were unclear.
The reported casualty figures remained uncertain, with Reuters saying local media had reported at least one person killed and several others wounded. Police had not independently confirmed the number of fatalities or injuries.
The Wall Street Journal, however, reported that five people had been shot, citing Metropolitan Police Department spokesman Nathan Clarke.
Witness accounts painted a frightening picture of the incident, with gym members describing scenes of panic as gunshots rang out.
One witness, James Spellman, told Reuters that he heard gunfire and saw a man apparently struck by a bullet, with another person attempting to assist him.
He said blood was pouring from the victim as people fled the area in fear that the gunman was still nearby.
Another gymgoer told NBC Washington that the situation inside the fitness centre was horrific, describing how people struggled to escape without passing the suspected shooter.
A witness, Max Smith, also told NBC Washington that he left his apartment after a fire alarm sounded but heard more gunshots after residents gathered outside.
“Everyone starts sprinting,” he said, recalling the panic that followed.
Smith said he heard approximately three or four gunshots and that about 10 people took shelter inside a bathroom at a nearby bagel shop.
The Metropolitan Police Department urged residents to avoid the 1500 block of 15th Street Northwest as officers secured the area.
Nearby schools were also placed on lockdown, allowing lessons to continue while preventing people from entering or leaving the premises.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives deployed agents to assist local law enforcement in responding to the incident.
VIDA Fitness confirmed that shots had been fired inside its premises, adding that the facility would remain closed for the rest of Thursday.
The shooting occurred in Logan Circle, a busy and fashionable neighbourhood approximately one mile from the White House, raising security concerns given its proximity to the seat of the American presidency.
The White House had not publicly commented on the incident as of Thursday afternoon.
The shooting comes almost a year after two National Guard soldiers were shot while on duty near the White House in November 2025.
The soldiers, Sarah Beckstrom and Andrew Wolfe, were attacked in an incident allegedly involving Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national who was subsequently indicted and remains in federal custody.
Authorities have yet to establish the motive behind Thursday’s shooting or publicly identify the suspect.