DC Condo Manager Details Phone Call With Gunman After Shooting

Following a deadly shooting in north-west Washington DC not far from the White House, a residential building manager has recounted a chilling phone conversation with the gunman. The violent incident occurred on Thursday in and around a condominium complex situated in the Logan Circle neighborhood. The gunman, identified by police as 55-year-old Matt Lambert, killed one person and injured at least four others before dying by suicide.

Authorities identified the deceased victim as James Stuart, a 46-year-old manager at the condominium complex. According to investigators, Lambert fatally shot Stuart inside the building gym just before 8am ET on Thursday. The shooter then retreated to his apartment and fired at four individuals from his balcony. Emergency responders transported the wounded victims to the hospital, where one was listed in critical condition on Thursday. DC authorities stated on Friday that an additional woman sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot graze wound.

Condo Manager Shares Confession Details

Charelle Ferguson, another manager at the residential building, spoke with the Washington Post about receiving a phone call from Lambert at approximately 9am on Thursday, roughly an hour after the violence began. Ferguson explained that she was calling residents to ensure their safety when Lambert answered the phone. During their conversation, Lambert expressed deep frustration regarding mold and water damage inside his apartment.

Ferguson recalled Lambert stating that people would only pay attention if someone took drastic action. She stated that he confessed over the phone to shooting five people. Ferguson expressed profound shock, noting that she had previously been sympathetic to the maintenance concerns he raised about his unit.

Court records from the Guardian indicate that Lambert initiated a lawsuit against his condo association in 2025, claiming failure to resolve moisture, mold, and water damage linked to exterior construction work. The association denied any negligence and disputed liability in court documents, leaving the litigation ongoing.

Joel Braithwaite, the attorney representing Lambert in the civil case, expressed deep shock at a news conference on Thursday. Braithwaite noted that he last spoke with his client on Tuesday and that Lambert sounded completely fine during their conversation. Residents of the neighborhood later gathered on Thursday evening for a vigil to light candles and offer support to everyone impacted by the tragedy.

A Washington DC condo manager revealed the gunman confessed to shooting five people during a phone call.

Why it matters

This violent incident highlights the severe toll of unresolved legal and property disputes within residential communities, resulting in tragic loss of life and injuries near the nation's capital. The event underscores safety vulnerabilities in urban residential complexes and leaves a neighborhood mourning the loss of a building manager.