Mass shooting at popular gay-owned VIDA Fitness in D.C. leaves one dead, suspect barricaded

A Thursday morning shooting at and around VIDA Fitness, a gay-owned gym in Washington, D.C.’s Logan Circle neighborhood, left one person dead and four others injured as police confronted a suspect barricaded in an apartment building above the business. D.C. NBC affiliate WRC-TV reported the casualties, citing police, while D.C. Councilmember Brooke Pinto identified the gym and its surroundings as the site of the shootings.

The violence unfolded at a business with longstanding connections to the capital’s LGBTQ+ community. VIDA founder and owner David von Storch told The Advocate by text Thursday morning that he was aware of the situation but was unavailable for comment.

The Advocate has contacted the Metropolitan Police Department for comment and was directed to the agency's X account for updates.

MS NOW initially reported that five people had been shot, citing a department spokesperson. NBC Washington subsequently reported that one person had died and that four others had been taken to hospitals in varying conditions.

Police issued a critical alert warning of an active shooting near 15th and P streets NW. By 9:21 a.m., the department said the incident had become a barricade situation in the 1500 block of 15th Street NW.

“MPD’s Emergency Response Team is on the scene. Please avoid the area as we work to resolve the incident,” the department wrote.

Reporter Tristan Espinoza shared video of a large police response on X and reported that the suspected shooter was barricaded inside the building above VIDA. He said heavily armed officers had taken positions around surrounding buildings as the situation remained active.

Police instructed residents to get inside, stay away from windows, and remain indoors until further notice. Authorities issued a shelter-in-place order for the immediate area.

A VIDA manager told ABC affiliate WJLA that shots had been fired outside the business and that officers were inside the gym, which remained under lockdown as of 9 a.m. The location would close for the rest of the day, the manager said. The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were assisting police.

The Logan Circle gym, at 1517 15th St. NW, is one of four VIDA Fitness locations in the District, alongside City Vista, U Street and the Yards. The chain also operates two Northern Virginia gyms in Ballston and Reston Station.

Von Storch has spoken about being gay and about making gyms welcoming to LGBTQ+ people. In a 2016 interview with WTOP radio, he described a business philosophy rooted in serving the communities surrounding his facilities.

His reach across the Washington area extends beyond fitness. Von Storch is the founder and CEO of Urban Adventures Companies, whose brands include VIDA, Bang Salon, Aura Spa, Penthouse Pool Club, SweatBox, and VIDA Pilates.

This is a developing story.