Old Dominion ROTC Instructor Killed as ROTC Student Fatally Stabs Former National Guard Member Previously Convicted of Attempting to Aid ISIS During Classroom Attack, FBI Says
Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, 36, a naturalized U.S. citizen and former Virginia Army National Guard member who pleaded guilty in 2016 to attempting to provide material support to ISIS and was released from federal prison in December 2024 while on supervised release, opened fire in a classroom at Old Dominion University’s Constant Hall shortly before 11 a.m., asked whether it was an ROTC class, shouted “Allahu Akbar,” and fatally shot ROTC instructor Lt. Col. Brandon Shah and wounded two others, the FBI said. ROTC students subdued and fatally stabbed Jalloh, and the FBI—treating the incident as a potential act of terrorism with the Joint Terrorism Task Force involved—said investigators found one firearm, no explosives, and no evidence tying the motive to the current Middle East war.
đź“Ś Key Facts
- The attack occurred shortly before 11 a.m. (police received an active‑shooter report at about 10:43 a.m.) inside Constant Hall on Old Dominion University’s Norfolk campus; classes and main‑campus operations were canceled for the day and officials declared there was no longer a threat within about an hour.
- One person was killed and two others were wounded and taken to hospital; Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger identified the slain instructor as Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, an ROTC instructor, and Sentara Health said the two injured were in critical condition.
- The suspect was identified as Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, 36, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Sierra Leone and a former Virginia Army National Guard member who pleaded guilty in 2016 to attempting to provide material support to ISIS and was sentenced in 2017 (11 years with credit for time served); he was released from federal custody on December 23, 2024 and was on supervised release at the time of the attack.
- FBI officials said Jalloh asked whether the classroom was an ROTC class, shouted "Allahu Akbar" before opening fire, and investigators believe he used a single firearm; no explosives or additional weapons were found and they have found no evidence linking his motive to the current Middle East war.
- ROTC students subdued and killed the shooter — FBI officials and local authorities said students “rendered him no longer alive” and that an ROTC student killed the gunman with a knife — and officers arrived within minutes of the initial call.
- The FBI is treating the incident as an act of terrorism; the Joint Terrorism Task Force is fully engaged, ATF agents were on scene supporting the response, and FBI leadership publicly credited the students’ actions and rapid law‑enforcement response with saving lives.
- Background on the prior prosecution: DOJ had sought a 20‑year sentence in 2017 but U.S. District Judge Liam O’Grady imposed an 11‑year term with credit for time served; reporting notes it is unclear why his release date was advanced and that his supervised release was scheduled to run until 2029.
- Political and campus reactions included statements by Gov. Spanberger and ODU President Brian Hemphill calling it a tragedy and prioritizing safety; some politicians — including Sen. Eric Schmitt and Rep. Jen Kiggans — publicly referenced the shooting in debates over denaturalization and criminal justice policy.
đź“Š Relevant Data
The recidivism rate for offenders convicted of terrorism-related offenses post-9/11 in the United States is approximately 1.6%, with only nine offenders recidivating out of 561 studied.
Examining Recidivism Rates for Post-9/11 Offenders — JSTOR
Since 9/11, 73 percent of international terrorism convictions in the United States have involved foreign-born individuals, compared to 27 percent involving U.S.-born citizens.
The Justice Department and Homeland Security have linked terrorism and immigration — House.gov
Immigration from Sierra Leone to the United States surged in the 1990s due to the civil war, with many entering as refugees or through the diversity visa program, facilitated by the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act which abolished national origins quotas and increased African immigration.
Immigration from Africa to the United States: key insights from recent research — PMC
As of 2025, the Muslim population in Virginia is estimated at 1.91% of the total population, or about 169,371 individuals, with growth driven by immigration and conversions.
Muslim Population by State 2026 — World Population Review
Federal inmates convicted of terrorism-related offenses can receive early release through good conduct time credits, up to 54 days per year, though some lawmakers argue terrorists should not be eligible for such reductions.
Convicted terrorists should not be released early from prison — Winchester Star
đź“° Source Timeline (9)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- FBI formally states that ROTC students at Old Dominion University subdued and killed the shooter.
- Confirms that one person was killed and two wounded in the incident in the FBI’s framing.
- Reinforces that the killing of the attacker was carried out by students, not responding law enforcement.
- Confirms that Mohamed Bailor Jalloh pleaded guilty in October 2016 to providing material support to ISIS after a three‑month FBI sting operation.
- Details that DOJ requested a 20‑year sentence in 2017 but U.S. District Judge Liam O’Grady imposed an 11‑year term with credit for time served, leading to Jalloh’s release on December 23, 2024.
- Clarifies that Jalloh was on supervised release that was scheduled to run until 2029 when he carried out the Old Dominion University attack.
- Describes his 2016 admissions to an undercover FBI agent about contemplating a Fort Hood–style attack and his attempts to acquire an AR‑15‑type rifle and donate $500 to ISIS.
- Notes that it is not yet clear why his release date was advanced; the article says inmates can earn time off for various reasons but none are specified in this case.
- Includes reaction from Rep. Jen Kiggans, who said on Facebook that the Old Dominion shooting 'never should have happened.'
- Confirms that Sen. Eric Schmitt is explicitly citing the Old Dominion shooting by naturalized citizen Mohamed Bailor Jalloh as a key justification for his SCAM denaturalization bill.
- Reiterates Jalloh’s status as a naturalized citizen and former Virginia National Guard member previously convicted of attempting to provide material support to ISIS.
- Places the ODU shooting in a political narrative alongside two other recent violent incidents involving naturalized citizens: the Temple Israel truck-ramming in Michigan and an Austin, Texas bar shooting.
- Officials say an ROTC student killed the gunman with a knife after he opened fire, and FBI SAC Dominique Evans confirmed students "rendered him no longer alive" and "terminated the threat" without gunfire.
- Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger publicly identified the slain instructor as Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, praising him as a devoted ROTC instructor who led a life of service.
- FBI officials say the shooter asked if the classroom was an ROTC class before beginning to fire, killed the instructor and wounded two others, then was subdued by students.
- The FBI confirmed Jalloh shouted "Allahu Akbar" before the attack and reiterated that he was previously the subject of an FBI material-support-to-terrorism investigation, having pleaded guilty in 2016 and been released from federal prison in December 2024.
- Investigators currently believe Jalloh carried only one firearm and have found no explosives or additional weaponry in his car or elsewhere, and say they have found no evidence linking his motive to the current Middle East war.
- The suspected shooter is identified as Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, 36, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Sierra Leone and former member of the Virginia Army National Guard.
- Jalloh was previously arrested on July 3, 2016 and, in 2017, sentenced to 11 years in prison plus five years of supervised release for attempting to provide material support to ISIS, including trying to help procure weapons for an ISIS‑inspired attack in the U.S. and attempting to send money to ISIS.
- FBI Director Kash Patel stated publicly that the FBI is now investigating the Old Dominion University shooting as an act of terrorism and said the Joint Terrorism Task Force is fully engaged and embedded with local authorities.
- Patel credited a group of students with subduing the shooter and said their actions, along with law enforcement’s quick response, "undoubtedly saved lives."
- Authorities now say one person was killed and two others injured in the Old Dominion University shooting, updating earlier reports that cited two critically injured victims.
- Police Chief Garrett Shelton said officers received an active‑shooter report at about 10:43 a.m. local time Thursday.
- Shelton said the suspect was found deceased within minutes of the initial call, though authorities have not specified how the suspect died.
- Hospital system Sentara Health says the two injured victims are in critical condition.
- Old Dominion University states it declared there was no longer a threat within about an hour of the shooting.
- The university canceled classes and suspended all operations on the main Norfolk campus for the rest of Thursday and urged people to avoid Constant Hall.
- ATF confirms agents are on scene supporting the response.
- Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger says she is monitoring the situation and mobilizing state support, though without specifics.
- ODU President Brian Hemphill issued a campus‑wide message calling the shooting a tragedy and emphasizing campus safety as his top priority.
- Article specifies that the incident occurred shortly before 11 a.m. at Constant Hall, which houses ODU’s business school.
- Confirms that both university and Norfolk police, along with emergency personnel, responded to reports of a shooter at the building.
- Notes that classes and operations on the main campus were canceled for the remainder of the day and reiterates that the shooter is dead and at least two people were injured and taken to a hospital.