Anthony Mirones was working out on a treadmill at the Logan Circle VIDA Fitness on Thursday morning when he noticed a commotion nearby. Looking toward the area, he saw a man lying on the ground.
“So I was on the treadmill, and like I’m kind of facing that vicinity, that area where the victim’s at… but I couldn’t really see because there’s a lot of treadmills in the way. So then I’m trying to figure out what the commotion was, and I just see a dude laying down,” Mirones told the Washington Blade.
Mirones was among the people inside the gym when a gunman opened fire shortly before 8 a.m. Thursday, killing one person and shooting four others, according to the Metropolitan Police Department.
Mirones said police officers rushed into the gym as people attempted to understand what had happened. He then heard additional gunshots outside the building.
“Outside the front entrance of the VIDA police officers are running inside — and then another police officer is trying to get the description of this guy who killed the guy. And while he’s describing him, one of the people who was inside the VIDA, I hear five gunshots or so, and then we all just start running, and people are scattering everywhere.”
“I had to walk over the body,” he told reporters.
Mirones said he did not hear additional gunfire inside the gym before people evacuated.
“There, I did not hear any more shots inside the gym. We all evacuated.”
As the situation unfolded, Mirones said he ran from the gym and sought shelter at a nearby coffee shop, where he remained while trying to understand what was happening.
“Yeah, I mean, I ran and I just wanted to take shelter, so I went to a coffee shop and I didn’t move… I think he’s barricaded right now, but who knows? It’s not confirmed yet fully.”
The suspected gunman, identified by police as a member of the gym, later barricaded himself inside 7th floor apartment above the facility and fired at responding officers, Interim D.C. Police Chief Jeffrey Carroll said.
Officers subsequently found the suspect dead from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Mirones said the experience was difficult to process, particularly knowing that his family was learning about the shooting while he was still at the scene.
“It’s surreal, honestly. That I’m a part of this. Like this happened. You know, I’m sure my family is shocked that I sent the text like ‘oh this happened at my gym and this is where I’m at. I’m safe.’”
The shooting took place at the VIDA Fitness in the 1500 block of 15th Street, N.W., in Logan Circle, a neighborhood with a prominent LGBTQ community. The gym is also colloquially known as one of Washington’s “gay gyms.”
It remains unclear whether the shooting was motivated by anti-LGBTQ bias.
The Blade will continue to update its coverage of this story as more information becomes available.