A man previously convicted of providing material support to the Islamic State terror group was killed Thursday after opening fire on the campus of Old Dominion University (ODU) in Virginia, killing one person and injuring two others.
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger on Thursday evening identified the victim as Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, describing him as a “devoted ROTC instructor.”
“Lt. Col. Brandon Shah was killed today in his classroom at Old Dominion University. 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,” Spanberger said. “I am grateful for his example, deeply saddened by his death, and praying for his family. Amid this tragedy, I thank the brave students, first responders, and law enforcement officers who responded quickly to today’s horrific attack.”
Multiple federal sources confirmed to Fox News that the shooter at ODU was Mohamed Jalloh, who was convicted in 2017 of providing material support to ISIS. He was released from prison in 2024.
The shooting occurred shortly before 10:49 a.m., the university said in an emergency alert.
Jalloh was pronounced dead when responding officers arrived following a shooting near ROTC cadets, ODU Police Chief Garrett Shelton told reporters during a news conference.
“The shooter is now deceased thanks to a group of brave students who stepped in and subdued him,” FBI Director Kash Patel wrote on X.
Jalloh was not shot, the FBI said, without elaborating on how he died.
“The brave ROTC members in that room subdued him,” FBI Special Agent in Charge Dominique Evans told reporters. “And if not for them, I’m not sure you know what else he may have done. But that’s exactly what they did. They confronted him, and they subdued him, and he was no longer able to conduct any further attack.”
One injured victim was taken to a hospital and the other took themselves to a hospital in Virginia Beach, authorities later said. Both were in stable condition, the chief said.
Less than an hour later, at 11:43 a.m., the school announced there was “no longer a threat” on campus but urged students and staff to avoid the area in and around Constant Hall while emergency personnel continued to respond.
Norfolk Police and the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) responded to the scene.
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Jalloh, who served in the Virginia National Guard, was a naturalized U.S. citizen from Sierra Leone. He quit the military after listening to online lectures by Anwar al-Aulaqi, a deceased leader of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, he told investigators when he was arrested in 2016.
While meeting with ISIS members in Nigeria, he tried to buy firearms in North Carolina and Virginia, the Justice Department said at the time.
ODU canceled classes and operations on its main campus for the remainder of the day.
An initial alert went out to students around 10:50 a.m. warning them of an “active threat” on campus and encouraging them to follow “Run-Hide-Fight” protocols.
Patel said the agency personnel are providing assistance and working with local authorities responding to the shooting.
“We will update as able,” he wrote.
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ODU President Brian Hemphill called the shooting a “tragedy” in a campuswide message Thursday and thanked university police, emergency personnel and Norfolk authorities for their swift response.
The university made counseling services available for students, faculty and staff as the investigation continues.
“The safety of our campus community is my top priority. We are deeply committed to safeguarding all Monarchs and ensuring a secure learning, living, and working environment at all times,” Hemphill said. “We take this responsibility very seriously and remain vigilant in our efforts to maintain a safe campus. I extend my thoughts and prayers to those impacted by the incident, as well as the entire campus and the broader community.”
