The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is treating a deadly shooting at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, as an 'act of terrorism.' The suspect, Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, killed one person and injured two others before being subdued by members of the university's Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program. According to multiple sources including AP News, Jalloh shouted 'Allahu Akbar' before opening fire in a classroom at Constant Hall.
Key Takeaways
The FBI is investigating a deadly shooting at Old Dominion University as an act of terrorism. The suspect, Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, killed one person and injured two others before being subdued by ROTC students. Jalloh had previously been convicted for attempting to provide material support to ISIS.
- FBI treats the shooting as an 'act of terrorism'
- Suspect Mohamed Bailor Jalloh was a former National Guard member with prior ISIS conviction
- Victim identified as Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, chair of military science department
- ROTC students subdued and fatally stabbed Jalloh after he opened fire in classroom
- Justice Department charges man for selling stolen gun to Jalloh
The shooting occurred shortly before 10:49am local time on Thursday, according to authorities. Old Dominion University Police Chief Garrett Shelton said officers responded after receiving reports that people were being shot in one of the classrooms in Constant Hall (AP News). Jalloh was a former member of the Army National Guard and had been sentenced to 11 years in prison for attempting to provide material support to ISIS. He was released from federal custody in December 2024, as reported by multiple sources including PBS.org and The Chicago Tribune.
According to law enforcement sources, Jalloh stormed into a classroom and asked if it was an ROTC class before opening fire. The instructor fatally shot by Jalloh was identified as Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, chair of the military science department at Old Dominion University. Shah completed several tours with the Army, including deployments to support Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom (CBS News). Two other ROTC members were injured during the shooting.
FBI Special Agent Dominique Evans praised the ROTC students for demonstrating 'extreme bravery and courage' in subduing Jalloh. According to law enforcement sources, one ROTC cadet fatally stabbed Jalloh after he shot the class instructor (Fox News). FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that the bureau is investigating this incident as an act of terrorism. The two injured individuals are both in stable condition.
Jalloh was a 36-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Sierra Leone who spent six years in the Virginia National Guard (Fox News). He served from April 30, 2009, to April 29, 2015, and held the rank of specialist when he left with an honorable discharge.
The Justice Department charged Kenya Chapman for allegedly selling a gun to Mohamed Bailor Jalloh (AP News). Chapman told agents he met Jalloh at work and that Jalloh told him he needed the gun for protection as a delivery driver, according to court papers. Norfolk Commonwealth's Attorney Ramin Fatehi blamed the mass shooting on firearms advocates, stating 'This is not an ODU problem. This is a national sickness' (Daily Mail).
Kenya Chapman, 32, of Smithfield, was charged with three counts of making false statements while purchasing a firearm and one count of selling a firearm without a proper license. The charges related to false statements were for unrelated gun purchases Chapman allegedly made in 2021 (CBS News). According to court documents, Chapman admitted that he had stolen the Glock 44 .22-caliber firearm from a vehicle in Newport News about a year prior to the shooting and sold it to Jalloh for $100. Chapman showed agents the $100 bill used in the purchase (CBS News).
Chapman had been investigated in 2021 for straw purchases of three guns, admitting to obtaining them illegally at the time. Two of these guns were recovered from a homicide scene, and another was found during an incident involving a drunk individual in public (PBS.org). Despite this history, Chapman received only a warning letter and was asked to write a letter of apology (AP News).
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp expressed his condolences for the loss of Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, a University of Georgia graduate who was killed in the shooting. Kemp described Shah as a 'dedicated and proud UGA graduate' and highlighted his service at Savannah's Hunter Army Airfield (CBS News). The University of Georgia community also shared their grief, noting Shah's commitment to mentorship and service.
Old Dominion President Brian Hemphill honored Lt. Col. Brandon Shah in a message to the university community, stating that 'Above all else, Lt. Col. Shah embodied what it means to be a devoted family man, a revered leader, and heroic protector even in his final moments' (Chicago Tribune). On campus Friday morning, Eddie Flack poured out a bottle of Wild Turkey on a lawn across from Constant Hall in honor of his close friend Shah.
How this summary was created
This summary synthesizes reporting from 28 independent publishers using AI. All sources are cited and linked below. NewsBalance is a news aggregator and media literacy tool, not a news publisher. AI-generated content may contain errors or inaccuracies — always verify important information with the original sources.