The FBI is investigating Thursday’s attack at Constant Hall as an act of terrorism after a man with a prior ISIS conviction shot and killed an Army ROTC instructor before students subdued and killed him with a knife.
The Old Dominion University shooting that locked down the Norfolk, Virginia campus on Thursday morning has been identified by the FBI as an act of terrorism. One person was killed — Army ROTC instructor Lt. Col. Brandon Shah — and two others were injured before students in the classroom physically subdued and killed the gunman, preventing what authorities say could have been a far deadlier attack.
The suspected shooter, identified as Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, 36, was a former Virginia Army National Guard soldier who had already been convicted once of attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State. He was released from federal prison in December 2024.
What Happened at Constant Hall on March 12
Shortly before 11 a.m. ET, Jalloh walked into a classroom inside Constant Hall — the College of Business building at Old Dominion University — and asked whether it was an ROTC class. When someone answered yes, he opened fire, shooting the instructor several times. Before the attack began, FBI Special Agent in Charge Dominique Evans said Jalloh shouted “Allahu Akbar.”
Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, a professor of military science and department chair of ODU’s Army ROTC program, was fatally wounded. Two other members of the ROTC program were also shot. One of those two later died at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital’s Level I trauma center. A third victim self-transported to a hospital after the initial reports.
The students in the classroom did not wait for police. ROTC students physically took down Jalloh and, according to CBS News, one student killed him with a knife. He was not shot. FBI SAC Evans described what the students did in striking terms: “Brave ROTC members in that room subdued him, and if not for them, I’m not sure what else he may have done.”
ODU Police Chief Garrett Shelton said the call came in, officers arrived, and the shooter was confirmed dead — all within less than 10 minutes. By the time officers entered, the threat was over.
The Gunman: Mohamed Bailor Jalloh
The Old Dominion University shooting could not be separated from Jalloh’s prior history from the moment the FBI identified him. He is a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Sierra Leone who served in the Virginia Army National Guard as a specialist from 2009 until his honorable discharge in 2015. The following year, he was the subject of a three-month FBI sting operation after making contact with Islamic State members in Africa.
According to court documents, Jalloh told an FBI informant he had quit the National Guard after listening to lectures from radical cleric Anwar al-Awlaki. He said he wanted to carry out an attack similar to the 2009 Fort Hood shooting, which killed 13 people. He tried to donate $500 to the Islamic State — the money actually went to an FBI-controlled account — and attempted to procure weapons for what he believed would be a domestic attack. During one exchange with the informant, Jalloh “expressed that it was better to plan an operation for Ramadan.”
He pleaded guilty in October 2016 to attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization and was sentenced to 11 years in prison in 2017. Federal prosecutors had recommended 20 years. He was released from federal custody in December 2024, more than two years before his sentence was set to expire. The reason for his early release has not been publicly explained, though early release is not unusual in the federal prison system.
Evans said investigators have so far found no connection between the attack and the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict. Jalloh had one weapon on his person at the time of the shooting. No explosives were found in his car or at any other locations.
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the bureau is treating the shooting as an act of terrorism. “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,” Patel said. The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is working alongside local police in the investigation. ATF agents were also deployed to the scene.
Lt. Col. Brandon Shah: The Victim
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger identified the killed ROTC instructor Thursday night as Lt. Col. Brandon Shah. “Lt. Col. Brandon Shah was killed today in his classroom at Old Dominion University,” Spanberger wrote. “A devoted ROTC instructor, Lt. Col. Shah didn’t just lead a life of service to our country, he taught and led others to follow that path.”
Shah joined the Army in 2003 and served in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, accumulating over 600 combat flight hours. He was awarded two Bronze Stars. In his role at ODU, he served as a professor of military science and ROTC department chair, and was credited in 2023 with growing ROTC enrollment by nearly 50% — from 95 to nearly 140 students.
His cousin, Rizwan Shah, who also served in the U.S. Army, said their family had immigrated from Pakistan. Brandon Shah was born in the United States after his father came to America. “Up until this point we’ve been a great immigrant story,” Rizwan Shah said. “It’s a horrible and tragic end to his story.”
The U.S. Army Cadet Command confirmed three of the victims are affiliated with ODU’s ROTC program. “We are deeply saddened by the loss of a member of the U.S. Army ROTC team,” the command said.
The University’s Response
Old Dominion University canceled classes for the remainder of Thursday and through Friday and suspended all operations on its main campus. The university urged people to avoid the area around Constant Hall while investigators continued to work the scene. A Family Information Center was made available at Chartway Arena’s Big Blue Room. Counseling services and food were provided at Broderick Dining Commons. The Talk Campus peer support platform, available 24 hours a day, was activated for students.
ODU President Brian Hemphill issued a statement acknowledging the tragedy and expressing gratitude for the rapid emergency response. “The safety of our campus community is my top priority,” Hemphill wrote. “We are deeply committed to safeguarding all Monarchs and ensuring a secure learning, living, and working environment at all times.”
Gov. Spanberger said Virginia State Police was on the scene and providing full support. She confirmed she had spoken directly with President Hemphill. Norfolk Police Department, ODU Police, and multiple federal agencies coordinated the response.
FAQ
Q1: What happened in the Old Dominion University shooting on March 12, 2026? A gunman identified as Mohamed Bailor Jalloh entered an ROTC classroom inside Constant Hall at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, shortly before 11 a.m. ET and opened fire after asking whether it was an ROTC class. He fatally shot Army ROTC instructor Lt. Col. Brandon Shah and wounded two other ROTC members. Students in the classroom physically subdued Jalloh and killed him. The FBI is investigating the incident as an act of terrorism.
Q2: Who was Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, the victim killed in the Old Dominion University shooting? Lt. Col. Brandon Shah was a professor of military science and ROTC department chair at ODU. He joined the Army in 2003, was deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan, earned two Bronze Stars, and was credited with growing ODU’s ROTC enrollment by nearly 50%. Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger described him as a devoted instructor who “taught and led others” to follow a path of service to their country.
Q3: Who was the gunman and how did he die? The gunman was identified as Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, 36, a former Virginia Army National Guard soldier who pled guilty in 2016 to attempting to provide material support to ISIS and was sentenced to 11 years in prison. He was released from federal custody in December 2024. He was not shot — ROTC students physically subdued him, and CBS News confirmed one student killed him with a knife. FBI SAC Dominique Evans confirmed he was “rendered no longer alive” by the students in the room.
Q4: Why is the FBI investigating the Old Dominion University shooting as terrorism? FBI Director Kash Patel announced the shooting is being investigated as an act of terrorism based on Jalloh’s prior ISIS-related conviction, his shouting of “Allahu Akbar” immediately before opening fire, and his documented history of planning a domestic attack inspired by the 2009 Fort Hood shooting. The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is working alongside local and state police in the ongoing investigation.
Q5: What is the current status of the Old Dominion University campus following the shooting? Old Dominion University canceled classes for the remainder of Thursday and through Friday. The active threat was declared over within roughly an hour of the shooting. Counseling services are available through Broderick Dining Commons and the Talk Campus platform. The investigation is ongoing, and the area around Constant Hall remained restricted as of Thursday afternoon. No explosives were found at the scene or in the gunman’s vehicle.
Sources & References
- WAVY News — Students ‘Render Gunman No Longer Alive’ After Campus Shooting That Killed 1, Injured 2
- ABC News — ROTC Students Subdued and Killed Old Dominion University Gunman, Officials Say
- CBS News — Old Dominion University Shooting Being Investigated as Terrorism
- CNN — Terror Suspect in Deadly Old Dominion Shooting Was Subdued by Students, Officials Say
- NBC News — Old Dominion Shooting Investigated as Terrorism; Gunman Was Previously Convicted for ISIS Support
- Associated Press via WRAL — ROTC Students at Old Dominion University Subdued and Killed Shooter
- 13NewsNow — ODU Issues Active Threat at Constant Hall
