At least five people shot, one killed, in central Washington, DC

Police have said at least five people have been shot in a busy thoroughfare in the centre of Washington, DC , by a suspected gunman who has since barricaded himself inside a building. Local and federal law enforcement, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Secret Service, had cordoned off the area and were working to apprehend the suspected gunman, said Al Jazeera’s John Holman, reporting from the scene. The shooting occurred on Thursday near Logan Circle, at the intersection of 15th Street NW and P Street, police said at 8:23am local time (13:28 GMT). James Spellman was at the gym when he heard shots being fired.

He said there were about 50 people in the gym at the time. “Within seconds there was a man who fell to the ground, and a pool of blood came out,” he said. “One gym member rushed to help him. He was instantly dead.

He had been shot in the neck.” Spellman said he and other gym members ran out of the gym, and he said 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.