DC shooting latest: Ongoing building dispute between suspect, victim

We heard shots being fired and within seconds there was a man who fell to the ground. Then we exited the gym and then I was explaining to the cop what happened with some other people and that's when we heard the additional gunshots and we literally ran for our lives. The police were literally here in 30 seconds and they come running down the street. They're telling everybody to get inside, lock your doors, active shooter. We start the 6th with the latest on the terror in Logan Circle. A building dispute possibly sparked the deadly mass shooting this morning. Tonight, new details about the suspected gunman. A local doctor, a lawyer who recently represented him, spoke out just moments ago. The early morning shooting in northwest D.C. left one man dead and several others injured. Police say that the shooter turned the gun on himself. Fox 5 has live team coverage for you tonight. Sharon Rogay spoke with people who witnessed the shooting, and Katie Barlow has more from the alleged shooter's former attorney. Let's start with our Tom Fitzgerald live outside D.C. Police Headquarters tonight with the latest on the investigation. Fitz. Kenneth Angie, good evening. We can tell you the suspect in all of this, 55-year-old Matthew Lambert, is dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. These shootings this morning prompted an overwhelming, massive police response. It sent 11 D.C. schools nearby into lockdown and residents and businesses. Sheltering in place for their own safety as they were just beginning their day. Let's recap the nuts and bolts of this. It was shortly after 8 a.m. this morning when about 50 people were inside the Vita Fitness Center when Matthew Lambert came through the front door shooting a handgun at the victim, James Stewart. He's the manager of the condo building that Lambert lived in. Killed him instantly. Then Lambert, he then made his way to the seventh floor of his apartment building where he had a balcony and then to open fire again down onto the street, this time with a shotgun. Police say he struck four other people, two men, two women. We're told one of those victims tonight is in a critical life-threatening injury situation. D.C. police tactical teams stormed the meeting immediately. Tracking Lambert down up to his apartment on the seventh floor and then hostage negotiators got to work trying to coax him out of that room. It was to no avail. While they were outside in the hall, police said they heard a gunshot and then Lambert was dead of his own hand. Police today said in a news briefing today with the interim police chief, Jeffrey Carroll, that Lambert had targeted James Stewart and then went on his shooting spree. That the victim that was killed inside of the Vita was the building manager for that location. So we do know that there has been an ongoing dispute between the suspect in this case and the building condo homeowners association management regarding maintenance issues, mold and the like that there was a civil case that he filed against them. So we believe it's related to that. Now, even though this happened nearly 10 hours ago now, this investigation is still in the early stages. Chief Carroll telling Fox 5 tonight, there is security video from inside that gym as Lambert began shooting. They are also checking with other security cameras along the P Street corridor. Neighborhood police say Lambert had also a rifle, a shotgun, and a handgun. He was not licensed to carry any sort of firearm. In the District of Columbia, we are live at police headquarters tonight. We'll send it back in to Kenneth and Angie. Fitz, thank you so much for that recap. Now, after the shooting spree, you heard Fitz say right there how police said the suspect escaped, went back to his condo above the Vita Fitness Center. Now, dramatic video captured the moments investigators believe he lit a fire while barricaded inside. For the first time, we are hearing from the attorney who represented Lambert in his ongoing legal battle. We want to continue our breaking news coverage now with Fox 5 chief legal correspondent, Katie Barlow. Katie, what do we know? Well, Joel Braithwaite, a D.C. lawyer who represented Lambert in his lawsuit that was filed here in D.C. Superior Court against that condo building, Metropole, related to water intrusion and ongoing mold issues, wanted to speak out today in part because he said he was really in shock given what he knew of his client and surprised to end the day learning what happened. When he first heard, he heard through CNN an email request, he thought that his client was a victim of gun violence and that he's only known him to be a healer because Lambert is a board-certified emergency physician with 20 years of clinical experience, according to his website. But we heard from Joel less than an hour ago a lot of details about Lambert, including his surprise. Take a listen. My spirit actually... We talked with him on Tuesday about the matters of this case. He said last week there was a deposition. He thought everything was going very well. We do know that... Great spirits. He had just had some new beginnings on the horizon, starting a new job on Monday. One day. So I'm at a loss for how things took any sort of turn that would have us here today. It is... At least as I understand what's being reported, because I have no first-hand facts, it appears that someone who was also involved with the litigation may have also been affected and may have been a victim of today's violence. Again, there's nothing I can say to justify any actions that took place. A few more things that we learned during the time that Joel was speaking. First of all, he spoke to his client on Tuesday, he said, and that is the client was in good spirits. He never even spoke of owning a gun, which squares with what you just heard Fitz reporting, that he was not registered to have a firearm in the district and that he was incredibly surprised to hear that this was happening. He said that both the victim and Lambert have been using the same gym, that Vita gym, to Thank you. Over the past three years, so there was an ongoing dynamic and the two were in the same place often, he also referred to the apartment in the Metropole building as his prized possession that had roughly $1 million tax value. However, that was no longer his primary residence, according to Joel. He also has a home in the mountains in West Virginia where he lived primarily and that And that there wasn't much furniture in the Metropole location, perhaps in part because Because of some of the issues that he was complaining about in the lawsuit that was filed here in D.C. Superior Court, Joel also said that he was over $300,000 out of pocket So he could have also been experiencing financial strain, although Braithwaite wouldn't go quite that far as to confirm that and also said he had a new job on Monday where he was expecting significant income. We also learned a bit of a poignant moment that today it was the anniversary that Lambert buried his mother. So also an emotional day for him. But again, Joel emphasized no indication of any mental health issues. I did ask him. If he had experience with these types of cases involving living near mold, because there are all kinds of symptoms that can be associated with that, and whether it's a known symptom or associated factor that he could have mental health issues related to that, he said that was a good question, but we'll have to wait and see on an answer there. Angie. All right, Katie Barlow, thank you. And from the suspect to the victims, new details coming to light about James Stewart, the manager of the condo building, shot and killed inside Vita. Our team coverage continues tonight with Fox 5's Sharon Brzezey live outside that gym. Sharon. Yeah, Kenneth, we're right on P and 15th, and this block is still cordoned off. We have a police presence still out here about 10 hours later. We've seen some people go in and out of the Metropole apartment buildings to be able to grab their belongings because they were evacuated earlier. Yes, one... Man, 46 years old, lost his life today. Four others were shot, one in critical condition. And I've been talking about just the trauma that this community has undergone today by what they've witnessed, the panic they've witnessed. Just moments ago, I saw some people leaving flowers here for the victims of tonight. And they spoke about not only what they saw, but the impact it leaves. This is a tragic day for Logan Circle, a tragic day for D.C. This gym, where it happened, is a real center of the community. Thank you. There's a sense of community around this gym and this building and the businesses on this block. So this really strikes right at the heart of the community. Yeah, not only is the greater D.C. community reeling from what unfolded this morning, but inside Vita Fitness, a popular gym here in Logan Circle, there is a tight-knit community of folks who are just shook. About 50 people were reportedly inside, many just starting their morning workouts. When suddenly, gunfire. One man was shot and killed inside the gym. That victim has been identified as 46-year-old James Stewart of Northwest D.C., the building manager at the Metropolitan Condominium building where the suspect lived. Police say the suspect ...had been involved in this ongoing dispute with the Condominium Association over building maintenance issues. And investigators are looking into whether that dispute motivated the shooting. One friend on social media says that James did not deserve... to be murdered. And as people ran for cover, more shots rang out. Four others, two men, two women were hurt who were apparently on the ground level. Police say one of the four surviving victims is in critical condition. Again, the other three suffered non-life threatening injuries. But again, for those who have loved ones here, who go to the gym, who live nearby, there's a lot of emotion and concern. I didn't know him personally, but of course my heart goes out to him and to everybody in this community. But yeah, I think some of us are going to still be a little bit on pins and needles as we wait to find out the identities of the other people who were shot. No one should have to have this reality because someone is upset and they can take someone's life in like a matter of seconds. I'm wondering ways that the community can support both the families of the person who was killed and then the people who are still in the hospital and just making sure that they... And again, it's unclear if the suspect knew the other four victims or if they were just at the wrong place at the wrong time. We also reached out to the Metropolitan Building to see if they had a statement on losing their property manager, and they declined to comment. Guys, back to you. Sharon, thank you. And more live coverage ahead at 6.30 on this Terror and Logan Circle. And a reminder that you can find the latest breaking news and major stories from across the DMV on the Fox Local Washington, D.C. app. Scan that QR code on your screen or visit Fox5DC.com for more information. Fox Local is free for your phone and smart TV.