Shooting near the White House in Washington leaves one dead and four injured

A shooting in Logan Circle in Washington, DC, less than a mile from the White House, has left one person dead and four others injured.

At a news conference, Washington’s acting police chief, Jeffrey W. Carroll, confirmed that the person who died was pronounced dead at the scene.

The four injured people were taken to hospital. One is in critical condition, while preliminary information indicates that the injuries of the other three are not life-threatening.

Police said they received a report of the incident shortly before 08:00 local time. Officers responded immediately and arrived at the scene within 30 seconds of receiving the report.

The incident took place inside and outside the Vida Fitness center in Logan Circle. Witnesses described the panic and said they initially mistook the noise for an object falling or an exercise ball bursting.

After the shooting, the gunman is believed to have barricaded himself inside a building in the 1500 block of 15th Street NW. The emergency prompted a large police response.

Dozens of emergency vehicles and officers from several law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), arrived in the area. Police cordoned off several surrounding blocks, while authorities urged people to avoid the area and stay away from the scene.

The gunman’s identity and motive have not yet been disclosed. Authorities have not provided full details of the circumstances, and police are continuing their investigation.