2026 Old Dominion University shooting

2026 Old Dominion University Shooting
Location36°53′15″N 76°18′19″W / 36.8875°N 76.3052°W / 36.8875; -76.3052
Old Dominion University
Norfolk, Virginia, US
DateMarch 12, 2026
c.10:49 a.m. (EDT)
TargetReserve Officers' Training Corps members
Attack type
School shooting
Weapons.22-caliber Glock 44 semi-automatic pistol[1][2]
Deaths2 (including the perpetrator)
Injured2
VictimBrandon Shah
PerpetratorMohamed Bailor Jalloh
DefendersUnknown amount of students
MotiveUnder investigation (possibly terrorism)
ChargesFirearm seller: Unlawful firearms dealing offenses and false statements[3]

On March 12, 2026, a shooting took place at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, United States. The assailant, 36-year-old Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, attacked a Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) group, yelling "Allahu Akbar" while opening fire.[4][5] One ROTC instructor was killed and two ROTC cadets were critically injured before Jalloh was fatally stabbed as other members of the ROTC group subdued him. The shooting is being investigated as an act of terrorism.

Background

Old Dominion University is a public research university in Norfolk, Virginia, United States. In 2023, it had an enrollment of 23,494 students. Its main campus covers 250 acres.[6] Constant Hall, the place where the shooting occurred, is the hub of the university's College of Business. It has two lecture halls and another 19 classrooms.[7]

Shooting

CCTV showed the gunman parked his car on campus at approximately 9:40 a.m. EDT.[3] At around 10:43 a.m., he opened fire on members of the university's ROTC program in Constant Hall before a group of cadets, two of whom were injured during the struggle, subdued and fatally stabbed him.[8][9] ABC News reported he walked into a room and asked if it was an ROTC class. When someone replied yes, he reportedly shouted "Allahu Akbar," before shooting the instructor, Brandon Shah, several times, and killing him.[4][5] One ROTC student fatally stabbed the shooter while others subdued him.[10]

At 10:48 a.m., a University alert urged students to avoid the area and follow run-hide-fight protocols.[11] The first call was made in less than 10 minutes. Police arrived four minutes later and found that the shooter was dead.[12][13][14] Three nearby schools were placed on lockdown. Dozens of police and first responders were dispatched to the scene.[15] At 12:10 p.m., the university sent an all-clear alert stating that there was no remaining threat but to avoid the area where the shooting occurred.[8]

Victims

One person was killed and two ROTC members were injured. Two of the injured were transported to the Level 1 trauma center at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital in critical condition, where one later succumbed to their injuries.[1] Initially, police reported they were the only victims; however, another victim brought themself to a hospital in Virginia Beach.[8] All victims were members of the university.[16][12] The deceased victim was identified as Lieutenant Colonel Brandon Shah, a resident of Staunton. He enlisted in the Army in 2003 as an aviation operations specialist and enrolled at Old Dominion University in 2005. Shah received his Army commission and graduated in 2007 with a bachelor's degree in sociology and a minor in military science.[17]

Perpetrator

Authorities identified the shooter as 36-year-old Mohamed Bailor Jalloh (September 1989[18] – March 12, 2026), a naturalized US citizen, who was born in Sierra Leone, and had been a resident of Sterling, Virginia.[19][20] Jalloh previously served as a member of the Virginia Army National Guard from 2009 until early 2016. He previously pled guilty on October 27, 2016, for attempting to provide material to support the Islamic State before his arrest on July 3, 2016, and was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison and five years of supervised release on February 10, 2017. He was registered as inmate #90187-083 based on a document from the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, and was released early from federal custody on December 23, 2024 after completing a drug treatment program.[21][8] Federal inmates convicted of terrorism-related offenses are ineligible for early release via such programs or for good behavior.[16] The last contact with his parole officer was four months before the shooting. After being released, he took online classes at the university.[22]

Court documents said Jalloh became radicalized while briefly living in Nigeria between July 2015 and January 2016, after meeting with Islamic State (IS) members and viewing extremist propaganda, including lectures from Al-Qaeda-linked cleric Anwar al-Awlaki. On the day before his arrest, Jalloh test-fired and purchased a Stag Arms 5.56×45mm NATO assault rifle from the Blue Ridge Arsenal gun store and firing range in Chantilly, Virginia, after attempting to purchase a Bushmaster XM-15 at the same store, and failing to purchase another firearm one month earlier in North Carolina.[23][24] Jalloh had previously praised Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez, who committed the 2015 Chattanooga shootings, in which five people were killed at two military installations.[25] Jalloh told an FBI confidential informant, pretending to be an Islamic State member, that he had considered carrying out a shooting in the United States sometime in summer 2016, during Ramadan, making references to the 2009 Fort Hood shooting and stating that he believed that such attacks were "100 percent the right thing".[5][23][26]

Aftermath

Classes were cancelled and operations on the main campus were suspended for the remainder of the day.[12] The university was closed the day after the shooting.[1] Norfolk Botanical Garden offered free admission to students, faculty and staff of the university for the weekend.[27]

The university closed Constant Hall for the remaining Spring 2026 semester.[28] New classroom locations are to be assigned to students and faculty following the university's Spring Break.

The day after the shooting, the University of Virginia, George Mason University, Bridgewater College, Randolph–Macon College, Longwood University, and Shenandoah University all investigated the areas of their respective on-campus libraries due to bomb threats.[29]

Investigation

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) director, Kash Patel, said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that the shooting is being investigated as an act of terrorism.[30] The Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) is investigating.[8] A day after the shooting, the FBI raided the perpetrator's home. Investigators also went to the house. .22 caliber ammunition consistent with the firearm used in the shooting was recovered.[31][32] Also on March 13, federal authorities arrested Kenya Mcchell Chapman, a 32-year-old Smithfield resident accused of unlawfully selling a Glock 44 with a partially altered serial number to Jalloh. Chapman stole the firearm from Newport News about a year prior to the shooting and sold it to Jalloh for $100 in cash just days before it.[31] Chapman said he met Jalloh at work and Jalloh said that he needed the gun for protection as a delivery driver.[33] He frequently contacted Chapman the week prior to the shooting. Chapman was known to law enforcement as he was previously under federal investigation for straw-purchasing firearms, including two used in homicides.[34] He was charged by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) with false statements and unlawful firearms dealing offenses.[35][36][3]

Reactions

President Donald Trump said on March 13 that "the Old Dominion University shooting was carried out by an individual previously arrested for providing material support to an Islamic State terrorist group, and who was released early from federal prison under the Biden Admin. This should have never happened." [37]

Many officials were swift to condemn the shooting, including Senator Mark Warner, Senator Tim Kaine, Representative Bobby Scott, Representative Jen Kiggans, and Governor Abigail Spanberger.

Rep. Kiggans was "furious" that this "terrorist monster" with ties known to ISIS was walking around Hampton Roads and offered her condolences to Lt. Col. Shah's family.[4]

Norfolk Commonwealth Attorney Ramin Fatehi called gun violence a "national sickness", and urged legislators to enact gun control.[38]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Old Dominion University shooting being investigated as terrorism; gunman was previously convicted for ISIS support". CBS News. March 12, 2026. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  2. ^ "Old Dominion attacker purchased stolen gun days before attack, ATF says". NBC News. March 13, 2026.
  3. ^ a b c "Feds arrest man who allegedly sold gun to Old Dominion shooter". ABC News. March 13, 2026. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
  4. ^ a b c "Students killed ODU shooter, who shouted 'allahu akbar' before opening fire: FBI". WTKR. March 12, 2026. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  5. ^ a b c "Who was Mohamed Jalloh? Ex-Army National Guard member accused of Old Dominion University shooting". WVEC. March 12, 2026. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  6. ^ "University Facts & Figures". Old Dominion University.
  7. ^ "Deadly Old Dominion University shooting probed as act of terrorism". USA Today. March 12, 2026. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  8. ^ a b c d e "1 killed, 2 injured and shooter dead at Old Dominion University in Virginia; FBI investigating as act of terrorism". WVEC. March 12, 2026. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  9. ^ "Terrorism probe after gunman attacks university killing one and wounding two". The Independent. March 12, 2026. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  10. ^ Dobkin, Rachael (March 13, 2026). "ROTC student stabbed Old Dominion attacker when he opened fire stopping his rampage, authorities say". The Independent. Retrieved March 16, 2026.
  11. ^ "Emergency Alert". Old Dominion University. March 12, 2026. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  12. ^ a b c "Gunman dead, 2 ROTC members critically injured in Old Dominion University shooting". WAVY-TV. March 12, 2026. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  13. ^ "Gunman dead, 2 people injured in shooting at Old Dominion University in West Virginia". wthr.com. 2026-03-12. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  14. ^ "Old Dominion University active shooter: what we know". Newsweek. 2026-03-12. Retrieved 2026-03-12.
  15. ^ "Police: Shooter kills 1 person, injures 2 at Old Dominion University". WBAY-TV. March 12, 2026. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  16. ^ a b "Old Dominion shooting suspect is ex-Army National Guard member with past terror conviction". Associated Press. March 12, 2026. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  17. ^ "Lt. Col. Brandon Shah identified as instructor killed in ODU shooting". WTKR. March 12, 2026. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  18. ^ "What we know about Old Dominion University shooter Mohamed Bailor Jalloh". WTKR. March 12, 2026. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  19. ^ "Fatal shooting at Old Dominion University is being investigated as an act of terrorism, FBI says". WYFF. March 12, 2026. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  20. ^ "What we know about Mohamed Jalloh: Suspected Old Dominion shooter". WTTG. March 12, 2026. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  21. ^ "Old Dominion shooter was released from prison early after completing drug program". Associated Press. March 13, 2026. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
  22. ^ "Student fatally stabbed Old Dominion University terror suspect, sources say". ABC News. March 13, 2026. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
  23. ^ a b "Former Army National Guardsman Sentenced to 11 Years for Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISIL". Federal Bureau of Prisons. February 10, 2017. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  24. ^ "Mohamed Bailor Jalloh - What we know about Jalloh". CEP. March 12, 2026. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  25. ^ "FBI investigating shooting at Virginia's Old Dominion University as terrorism". BNO News. March 12, 2026. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  26. ^ "Old Dominion shooter convicted of Islamic State group ties freed from prison 2 years before attack". WDEF. 2026-03-13.
  27. ^ "Norfolk Botanical Gardens offering free admission to ODU students and staff following fatal campus attack". WTKR. March 14, 2026. Retrieved March 14, 2026.
  28. ^ Lejano, Jenna (March 14, 2026). "ODU President announces Constant Hall closure for Spring 2026 semester". WAVY-TV. Retrieved March 15, 2026.
  29. ^ "Multiple bomb threats at Virginia colleges following ODU shooting". VPM Media Corporation. 2026-03-13. Archived from the original on 2026-03-13. Retrieved 2026-03-13. The threats come amid heightened concern for all Virginia institutions of higher education after Thursday's shooting at Old Dominion University in Norfolk; one person was killed and two were injured.
  30. ^ @FBIDirectorKash (March 12, 2026). "Earlier today, an armed individual opened fire at Old Dominion University, leaving one person dead and two others wounded. The shooter is now deceased thanks to a group of brave students who stepped in and subdued him – actions that undoubtedly saved lives along with the quick response of law enforcement. The FBI is now investigating the shooting as an act of terrorism. Our Joint Terrorism Task Force is fully engaged, embedded with local authorities, and providing all resources necessary in the investigation. In the meantime, please pray for the victims, their families, and the ODU community" (Tweet). Retrieved March 12, 2026 – via X (formerly Twitter).
  31. ^ a b "Old Dominion attacker purchased stolen gun days before attack, ATF says". NBC News. March 13, 2026. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
  32. ^ "Old Dominion University Shooting: FBI raid suspect's home". WTTG. March 13, 2026. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
  33. ^ "Justice Department charges man accused of selling gun to Old Dominion University shooter". WLS-TV. March 13, 2026. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
  34. ^ "Case against man prosecutors say sold gun to Old Dominion shooter provides new details on the attack". CNN. March 13, 2026. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
  35. ^ "Virginia Man Charged with Illegally Selling the Firearm Used in the Campus Shooting at Old Dominion University". United States Department of Justice. March 13, 2026. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
  36. ^ "U.S. DOJ charges man accused of selling gun to Old Dominion University shooter". Global News. March 13, 2026. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
  37. ^ @WhiteHouse (March 13, 2026). "The Old Dominion University shooting was carried out by an individual previously arrested for providing material support to an Islamic State terrorist group, and who was released early from federal prison under the Biden Admin. This should have never happened" (Tweet). Retrieved March 14, 2026 – via X (formerly Twitter).
  38. ^ "After deadly Old Dominion University shooting, prosecutor calls gun violence a 'national sickness'". WVEC. March 12, 2026.
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