Five shot, one killed, in central Washington, DC; suspect apprehended after shooting himself

A gunman shot five people, killing one, in a busy thoroughfare in the centre of Washington, DC on Thursday morning. Police have apprehended the suspect, who authorities say shot himself.

Police said the shooting occurred on Thursday at 8:23 am local time near Logan Circle, at the intersection of 15th Street NW and P Street.

Interim Police Chief Jeffery Carroll said the suspect, a white male, barricaded himself inside a nearby apartment building. Police were negotiating with the suspect on the phone when they heard gunshots. Upon entering the room, they found the man had shot himself.

Local and federal law enforcement, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Secret Service, cordoned off the area and worked to apprehend the suspected gunman.

James Spellman, a witness who was at a gym at the scene, told the Associated Press news agency he saw one person shot in the head inside the gym. He said there were about 50 people there at the time. Within seconds a man fell to the ground and a pool of blood came out, Spellman said; one gym member rushed to help him. He was instantly dead and had been shot in the neck.

Spellman said he and other gym members ran out of the gym and he heard more gunfire in the area of 15th Street. He said he heard about two shots fired in the gym and about five or six fired outside.

The attack took place about 1.6km (one mile) from the White House during the rush hour commute.

Schools near the scene were placed on lockdown. Police issued a shelter-in-place order, instructing the public to go inside the nearest building, stay away from windows and remain indoors until further notice.

Speaking at a press conference alongside the police chief after the shooting, Mayor Muriel Bowser praised local police for their quick response. She said it is not typical to have an active shooter gun down people in the city, so all law enforcement responded, and she praised DC police for bringing down crime in the city and praised prosecutors.

The White House did not immediately comment on Thursday's attack.