WASHINGTON (Diya TV) — New details have emerged about the deadly shooting at a condominium building in northwest Washington, D.C., after a building manager said the gunman complained about mold and water damage before telling her he had shot people.
The attack killed James Stuart, 46, the building’s manager, and wounded five others. Police initially reported five victims, including Stuart. On Friday, they confirmed that another woman had been injured, bringing the total number of people shot to six. Investigators believe the shooting grew out of a dispute between gunman Matt Wade Lambert and the condominium’s management, but they have not established a final motive.
Charelle Ferguson, another manager at the building, said she called residents around 9 a.m. Thursday to check on their safety. Lambert answered and returned to his complaints about the apartment’s condition, she said. Ferguson recalled him saying, “The only way people will pay attention, you have to do something.” He then told her he had shot five people. Ferguson said Lambert had previously discussed the maintenance problems with her, but she never expected him to attack anyone.
Police received reports of gunfire shortly before 8 a.m. in the 1500 block of 15th Street NW. Officers arrived within about 30 seconds. Investigators say Lambert shot Stuart inside the building’s gym, returned to his apartment and fired at people from a balcony. The victims included people near the building and workers at a construction site across the street. Police have not said whether Lambert knew the people he wounded.
Four injured people went to hospitals Thursday. One remained in critical condition, while three had injuries police described as non-life-threatening. The woman police identified Friday had a nonfatal injury.
Lambert, 55, lived in the condominium above the gym and worked as an emergency physician. During the police response, he barricaded himself in his apartment and fired through the door at officers twice, police said. A fire broke out inside the unit, but the building’s sprinklers helped contain it. Officers later entered the apartment and found Lambert dead. Police recovered a handgun, rifle and shotgun, which they said he used in the attack. None was registered to him in Washington, D.C.
The dispute had moved into court. In 2025, Lambert sued the condominium association and property management, alleging they failed to address water intrusion, moisture and mold in his apartment. His filing said the problems followed exterior work on the building. The case remained unresolved when the shooting occurred; the lawsuit presents Lambert’s allegations, not a court finding that the association caused the damage.
Lambert’s attorney in the civil case, Joel Braithwaite, said he spoke with his client on Tuesday, two days before the shooting. Braithwaite said Lambert gave no indication during that conversation that he might become violent.
Police continue to investigate the attack and Lambert’s dispute with the building’s management. The shooting left residents shaken in a neighborhood where the gym, homes and businesses sit along the same block.
