A shooting at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, on March 12, 2026, left one person dead, two injured, and the suspect deceased. The FBI is investigating it as an act of terrorism.
Incident Details
The attack occurred around 10:47-10:49 a.m. local time in a classroom at Constant Hall, the university’s business school building. Old Dominion University Police Chief Garrett Shelton reported alerts of people being shot inside. Two victims went to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital—one died there, the other remains in critical or stable condition; a third self-transported to another Sentara facility and was released.​
Suspect Background
Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, 36, from Sterling, Virginia, was identified as the gunman. A former Army National Guard member, he was arrested in July 2016 during an FBI sting for trying to buy an AK-47 and expressing intent for an attack like the 2009 Fort Hood shooting. In October 2016, he pleaded guilty to attempting to provide material support to ISIS (then ISIL), including a $500 donation attempt, and was sentenced to 11 years in prison plus five years supervised release in February 2017. He was released early from Federal Bureau of Prisons custody on December 23, 2024, with supervised release into 2029.
Response and Investigation
FBI Director Kash Patel stated on X that Jalloh shouted “Allahu Akbar” during the attack and was subdued by brave students, likely ROTC members, who killed him, crediting them and law enforcement for saving lives. The deceased victim was identified as Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, an ODU ROTC instructor and military science professor. The other injured victims are reportedly ROTC-affiliated U.S. Army personnel expected to recover.
