Old Dominion University Shooting: ROTC Students Subdue Gunman in Terror Attack That Leaves 1 Dead, 2 Injured

A shooting at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, on Thursday left one person dead and two others injured before ROTC students subdued and killed the gunman, authorities said. Federal officials are investigating the incident as a possible act of terrorism.

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the attacker shouted “Allahu Akbar” before opening fire inside a classroom. The gunman was identified as Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, a former Virginia Army National Guard member who previously served prison time for attempting to assist the terrorist group Islamic State.

ROTC Students Stop the Attacker

Officials said the shooting ended quickly because Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) students intervened. They subdued Jalloh and ultimately killed him before more people could be harmed.

Dominique Evans, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Norfolk field office, praised the students during a press conference.

She said their actions showed “extreme bravery and courage” and prevented further loss of life. Evans added that the gunman “was rendered no longer alive,” noting he was not shot but declining to provide further details.

Meanwhile, Kash Patel, director of the FBI, confirmed on social media that the case is being investigated as a terrorist attack.

Gunman Previously Convicted in ISIS Case

Investigators revealed that Jalloh had pleaded guilty in 2016 to attempting to support the Islamic State. He received an 11-year prison sentence but was released under supervised release conditions.

Authorities said it is not yet clear why his sentence ended earlier than expected. However, he remained under court supervision and would have been on release until 2029.

According to an FBI affidavit, Jalloh once discussed carrying out an attack similar to the Fort Hood shooting, which killed 13 people.

During a 2016 undercover investigation, he attempted to donate money to the Islamic State and tried to purchase a rifle to carry out an attack. The FBI intercepted the plan and arrested him the following day.

Victim Identified as Military Officer

Authorities identified the person killed in the shooting as Brandon Shah, a lieutenant colonel who served as a leader in the university’s ROTC program.

According to Voorhees University in South Carolina, Shah was the son-in-law of a university trustee.

Shah previously trained at Old Dominion University and returned in 2022 to help lead the ROTC program. During his military career, he flew helicopters over Iraq, Afghanistan, and Eastern Europe.

Shooting Ended Within Minutes

Garrett Shelton, chief of the Old Dominion University Police Department, said less than 10 minutes passed between the first emergency call and the confirmation that the shooter was dead.

Authorities are still determining the exact cause of death. Shelton also did not confirm whether police officers fired any weapons during the incident.

Two of the individuals who were shot were members of the university’s U.S. Army Cadet Command ROTC program, according to military officials.

Campus Operations Suspended

Following the attack, the university canceled classes and suspended operations on its main campus through Friday.

ODU President Brian Hemphill thanked emergency responders and expressed condolences to the victims and their families.

Old Dominion University serves about 24,000 students, and nearly 30% of its student population has military connections. The campus is located near Naval Station Norfolk, the largest naval base in the world.

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