Five Minutes, Five Shots: Suspect Kills Building Manager Before Dying
A 55-year-old doctor who was suing his landlord over mold issues killed the building manager in a gym before shooting four others from his balcony.
By Amina Howard ·
Police identified Matt Lambert, a 55-year-old doctor, as the man who killed a building manager in a crowded gym and shot four other people in Washington, D.C., on Thursday morning. Lambert died by suicide while holed up in his apartment, according to Interim Metropolitan Police Chief Jeffery Carroll.
The violence unfolded in less than five minutes around 8:00 a.m. local time in the Logan Circle neighborhood. Lambert fired three pistols at four individuals from his seventh-floor apartment patio. One victim remained in critical condition late Thursday. The man killed in the ground floor of VIDA Fitness was James Stuart, the 46-year-old building manager.
Court records show Lambert was engaged in a long-running lawsuit against the building management. He alleged that mold, dampness, and water leaks prevented him from enjoying his home since 2024. Lambert claimed these issues began after a contractor performed exterior work. He posted photos and a technical report, which he called his manifesto, on a website named OfMiceandMold. A mediation hearing was scheduled for March.
Carroll stated that a persistent dispute over maintenance and mold likely motivated the shooting. Mayor Muriel Bowser described the event as a senseless act of gun violence that left her devastated.
Witnesses described chaos inside the gym. James Spellman said about 50 people were present when the shooting started. He noted that a man fell to the floor and bled heavily before dying instantly from a neck wound. Anthony Mirones, who was in the cardio section, heard a loud crash and saw the fire alarm activate, prompting a rush of people exiting the building. Many had to step over the body to leave.
Outside, Ryan Dubicki, an AP employee, was in a nearby apartment when he heard five shots. He initially thought they were construction noise before seeing police everywhere. Inside his apartment, Lambert cut a natural gas line serving a fireplace, starting a fire. The sprinkler system activated and contained the flames, Carroll said.
The area, located about one mile north of the White House, was cordoned off. Schools in the district closed. Logan Circle has seen other violence recently. In August 2025, a former Department of Government Efficiency member was assaulted by teenagers attempting a car theft. Days later, President Donald Trump placed the city under direct federal control, deploying hundreds of National Guard members who remain in the area.
