James Stewart, 46-year-old Logan Circle building manager, was fatally shot by suspect Dr. Matt Lambert amid condo dispute

James Stewart, 46, was fatally shot by Dr. Matt Lambert inside a DC gym in a dispute over condo mold; Stewart was named in Lambert’s lawsuit against the HOA. 46-year-old James Stewart was identified as the victim fatally shot by suspect Dr. Matt Lambert inside the VIDA Fitness gym in Washington's Logan Circle on Wednesday afternoon.Members of the Chief Medical Examiners Office wheel a gurney with a body of a man who was fatally shot at a gym, Thursday, Nov. 12. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)James Stewart was inside the gym when Lambert walked in with a handgun and fatally shot him. Stewart was the only deceased victim in the shooting. Five others were injured.The suspect, Matt Wade Lambert, was identified as a 55-year-old doctor. He was fighting a lawsuit against the building's homeowners' association, Metropole Condominium Association, alleging that mould and water leakage developed in the apartment following repairs in the building.Deep DiveThe lawsuit, filed in March 2025, is being investigated by MPD as a possible motive behind the shooting.Lambert posted on X about his lawsuit and, more generally, about the issues with the condo on an X account. In a screenshot of the lawsuit shared on the account, James Stuart was named as one of the defendants by Lambert.“We do know that there has been an ongoing dispute between the suspect in this case and the building, condo, homeowners association management regarding maintenance issues, mold and the like," interim police chief Carroll said. "That there was a civil case that he filed against them. So we believe that it’s related to that."This story is being updated.Shamik is a journalist covering the United States for Hindustan Times. He has more than four years of experience reporting on US politics, sports, and major breaking stories across fast-moving cycles. He previously worked at Times Now and Sportskeeda, building strong newsroom instincts and digital storytelling skills. At HT.com, he focuses on day-to-day coverage of US political developments while also handling high-impact stories that demand speed, accuracy, clarity, and context under pressure. Shamik has extensive experience covering NFL game days over the past two years, coordinating live updates, analysis, and explainers. He is particularly drawn to large news moments such as US elections and the Super Bowl, where he thrives at the news desk working alongside the team. He holds degrees in Media Studies from Jamia Millia Islamia and English Literature from Jadavpur University. Before entering journalism, he briefly worked in digital marketing and political consultancy roles. Currently a Senior Content Producer at HT Digital, he is driven by curiosity, discipline, and a constant desire to explore new and obscure topics. Outside work, he enjoys reading, films, sports, and learning continuously.Read More