Washington DC shooting latest updates: multiple people shot in Logan Circle

Multiple people have been shot in north-west Washington DC on Thursday morning, local police confirmed have confirmed, prompting a “barricade situation” in the area.

In a statement at 9.21am ET, the DC police said that the incident has “resulted in a barricade situation in the 1500 block of 15th Street, Northwest”.

“Please avoid the area as we work to resolve the incident,” they added.

A Vida Fitness manager told ABC7News that shots were fired outside the business. The local news station reported that as of 9am local time on Thursday morning, the business was still under lockdown and there is police inside the building.

The manager said that they feel safe with police inside, and that the gym will be closed the rest of the day.

Several schools in the area are on lockdown on Thursday morning.

The shootings were reported in Logan Circle, about 1 mile north of the White House.

Police urged people to avoid the area of the 1500 block of 15th Street, which includes a VIDA fitness center, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and residences and is around the corner from a Whole Foods supermarket, the AP reports.

Much of the block was cordoned off. Schools near the scene were placed on lockdown.

Armed police and members of the National Guard were visible around the Logan Circle area of Washington DC after the incident began on Thursday morning.

At least five people have been shot in Northwest Washington DC on Thursday morning, local police confirmed to the Associated Press.

A spokesperson for the Washington DC police department told the Guardian in a brief phone call on Thursday morning that the scene was “still active”. No further details were immediately available.

The DC police department said in a social media post at about 8.20am ET that officers were on the scene responding to an “active shooting in the area of 15th and P Street, Northwest”. The department’s emergency response team was also at the scene. The department urged the public to avoid the area.

The Metropolitan police department has also issued a shelter-in-place order for those in the immediate vicinity of the 1500 block of 15th Street NW. They have urged residents to “go inside to the nearest building, stay away from windows and remain indoors until further notice”.

Local council member Brooke Pinto also posted on social media on Thursday morning that there had been a shooting “at and outside Vida fitness this morning in Logan Circle”.

“Do not go to this area,” Pinto said. “Police looking for suspect.”

A reporter for the Washington Sun said that they spoke with a witness who was in the gym and “heard one gunshot and saw one person down in the gym itself, followed by more shots”.

The person told the reporter that the gym “cleared out” and that people were running from the scene with their “arms raised” as police yelled to clear out.