Logan Circle suspect waited an hour in gym before killing manager
Police say Dr. Matt Lambert fired a high-powered rifle through walls and windows before barricading himself in his condo, where he was found dead.
By Alyssa Parker ·
Police in Washington, D.C., say a gunman staged an ambush inside a fitness center before killing his building manager. D.C. Interim Police Chief Jeffery W. Carroll stated that Dr. Matt Lambert, 55, lay in wait for nearly an hour at VIDA Fitness on the 1500 block of 15th Street. Around 8 a.m. on Thursday, Lambert approached James Stuart, 46, from behind and opened fire without speaking. Carroll noted that the victim may not have known the gunman was behind him. Investigators believe the attack was planned.
A single rifle round from the initial shooting passed through a television, a wall, and a window. The blast caused injuries to five other people, bringing the total wounded to five alongside Stuart's death. Police confirmed a sixth victim, a woman who suffered a non-life-threatening graze wound to her arm or elbow. She self-treated the injury and was not hospitalized. Of the other four injured, two remain in the hospital. One is in critical but stable condition. Another was shot while in an alley near the apartment building. Two others were working at a construction site on Church Street.
After the gym shooting, Lambert returned to his seventh-floor condo at The Metropole. He climbed an interior staircase to a patio and fired several rounds toward the street. He then barricaded himself inside his unit. Officers found multiple crime scenes across different floors of the building, including shell casings on a separate level. Inside the apartment, drywall had been removed from the walls. Authorities recovered several hundred rounds of ammunition and an accelerant, either gasoline or kerosene. A gas line leading to the fireplace was also damaged.
During more than an hour of negotiation, Lambert focused his conversation on the homeowners association and condo association. An early social media post attributed to him read, "My manifesto is an engineering report." This appeared linked to a 20-month lawsuit he filed against The Metropole regarding water damage and mold. Police heard a gunshot inside the apartment before tactical officers forced entry. They found Lambert dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Carroll said police did not return fire when Lambert shot through the door.
The apartment building is currently uninhabitable due to water damage and a lack of gas and electricity. Residents are coordinating with staff to retrieve essential items. Police said no prior threats had been reported to them. Investigators are still working to determine where Lambert purchased the firearms. Mayor Muriel Bowser offered condolences to Stuart's family and those affected. "My heart just breaks for everyone," Bowser said. Ward 2 Councilmember Brooke Pinto said the community was supporting one another. Dozens of residents gathered in Logan Circle to light candles and leave notes.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 202-727-9099 or text a tip to 50411.
