Old Dominion ROTC Terror Shooting and Michigan Temple Israel Truck‑Ramming: Updated Details on Attackers’ Backgrounds and Injuries
At Old Dominion University, 36‑year‑old Mohamed Bailor Jalloh — 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 custody in December 2024 after an 11‑year sentence — entered Constant Hall, asked if the classroom was ROTC, shouted “Allahu akbar,” fatally shot ROTC instructor Lt. Col. Brandon Shah and wounded two ROTC cadets before students subdued and killed him; one wounded person has been released and the other is in fair condition, federal agents are treating the attack as terrorism, and prosecutors have charged Kenya Chapman with illegally selling the stolen .22‑caliber pistol used in the shooting. In Michigan, investigators say Ayman Mohammad Ghazali waited about two hours outside Temple Israel with a rifle, commercial‑grade fireworks and jugs believed to contain gasoline, then rammed his vehicle into the building, fired through his windshield, exchanged shots with an armed security guard (who was knocked unconscious), and ultimately fatally shot himself after his vehicle became stuck and caught fire; the FBI describes the incident as targeted violence against the Jewish community while it continues to investigate whether it meets the legal standard for terrorism.
📌 Key Facts
- The Old Dominion University attack occurred shortly before 11 a.m. inside Constant Hall (the university’s business school); university and Norfolk police responded and the campus was closed for the day.
- The shooter at ODU was identified as 36‑year‑old Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, a naturalized U.S. citizen and former Virginia Army National Guard specialist who pleaded guilty in 2016/2017 to attempting to provide material support to ISIS and was sentenced to 11 years (released from federal custody Dec. 23, 2024) and remained on supervised release.
- FBI and local officials say Jalloh asked whether the classroom was an ROTC session, shouted “Allahu Akbar,” opened fire killing Army ROTC instructor Lt. Col. Brandon Shah and wounding two ROTC members; students in the classroom (ROTC cadets) confronted, subdued and rendered him no longer alive (one student reportedly killed him with a knife).
- Two people were shot; Sentara Health and later reporting said one wounded person was released from the hospital and the other was in fair condition after initially being reported critical.
- Federal investigators have recovered a Glock 44 .22‑caliber pistol with a partially obliterated serial number; authorities say Virginia resident Kenya Chapman stole the gun about a year earlier and sold it to Jalloh for $100 and has been charged with false statements and unlicensed dealing amid earlier ATF scrutiny for straw purchases.
- Federal authorities including the FBI and the Joint Terrorism Task Force are treating the ODU classroom attack as an act of terrorism and are publicly crediting the students’ actions with preventing further loss of life; ATF agents were also on scene supporting the response.
- Jalloh’s early release involved transfer to a residential reentry center in August 2024 and participation in a drug‑treatment reentry program (a point of scrutiny because such programs are generally closed to terrorism offenders), and officials have not fully explained how his release timing was advanced.
- In the separate Michigan incident at Temple Israel, authorities say Ayman Mohammad Ghazali allegedly waited about two hours outside with a rifle, commercial‑grade fireworks and jugs believed to contain gasoline, then rammed the building, fired through his windshield, exchanged shots with an armed security guard, and fatally shot himself after his vehicle became stuck and caught fire; about 140 children and staff were inside, one security officer was knocked unconscious, and the FBI describes the event as targeted violence against the Jewish community while it continues to investigate whether it meets the legal standard for terrorism.
📊 Relevant Data
Antisemitic incidents in the United States have surged by 893% over the past decade.
The Recent Rise in Anti-Semitic Hate Crimes in the United States — Moritz College of Law, The Ohio State University
In the 2024 Israeli invasion of Lebanon, at least 564 people were killed in Lebanon, including 133 civilians.
2024 Israeli invasion of Lebanon — Wikipedia
Recidivism rates for U.S. offenders convicted of terrorism-related offenses post-9/11 are low, with only nine out of 561 offenders reoffending.
Examining Recidivism Rates for Post-9/11 Offenders — JSTOR (Perspectives on Terrorism)
The Muslim population in North America grew by 52% to 5.9 million between an unspecified prior period and 2020, with the highest growth rate among regions.
3. Muslim population change — Pew Research Center
Virginia has approximately 3,000 to 5,000 immigrants born in Sierra Leone, contributing to the state's Black immigrant population.
A Closer Look: Black Immigrants to Virginia's Economy and Communities — The Commonwealth Institute
📰 Source Timeline (23)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
March 14, 2026
5:30 PM
What to know about the attacks at Old Dominion University and a synagogue in Michigan
New information:
- Confirms the Old Dominion shooter, Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, was released early from his 11‑year terrorism sentence after completing a drug treatment program, despite such programs typically excluding terrorism offenders.
- Clarifies that Jalloh had been moved to a residential reentry center in August 2024 and was released from federal custody later that year, and was on probation and taking online classes at Old Dominion at the time of the attack.
- Adds detail that at Temple Israel, Ayman Mohammad Ghazali waited about two hours outside with a rifle, commercial‑grade fireworks, and jugs believed to contain gasoline, then began firing through his windshield and ultimately fatally shot himself after his vehicle became stuck and caught fire.
- Updates victim status: one of the wounded in the ODU shooting has been released from the hospital; the other is in fair condition, according to Sentara Health.
- Reiterates that the FBI is investigating the ODU attack as an act of terrorism and that FBI officials publicly praised ROTC students’ actions in subduing and killing the shooter.
2:00 PM
Virginia Democrats dig in on DHS funding line despite ISIS-linked shooting at ODU, illegal immigrant murder
New information:
- FBI has formally announced it is investigating the Old Dominion University shooting as an act of terrorism.
- Sen. Mark Warner explicitly blames FBI Director Kash Patel’s mass firings of experienced FBI agents and counterterrorism experts for the bureau losing track of Mohamed Bailor Jalloh.
- Warner demands that Patel 'answer for how the FBI lost track' of Jalloh, a previously convicted ISIS supporter, who was then able to obtain a gun and kill Lt. Col. Brandon Shah.
- Sen. Tim Kaine and Sen. Mark Warner reaffirm that they will not support reopening DHS without reforms, despite GOP arguments about terrorism risks after Operation Epic Fury.
- Kaine criticizes ICE’s handling of Abdul Jalloh, the undocumented immigrant accused of killing Virginia resident Stephanie Minter, saying 'ICE had this guy repeatedly and let him go' and questioning why ICE repeatedly released him beginning in 2017–2018.
4:29 AM
What to know about attacks at a Virginia university and Michigan synagogue
New information:
- Confirms the Old Dominion University classroom shooter as former Virginia Army National Guard specialist and naturalized U.S. citizen Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, previously convicted in 2017 of providing material support to ISIS and sentenced to 11 years.
- Details that Jalloh yelled “Allahu akbar” and asked if the classroom event was ROTC-related before opening fire, killing Lt. Col. Brandon Shah and wounding two others.
- Reports that FBI Director Kash Patel says the ODU shooting is being investigated as an act of terrorism.
- Provides custody timeline: Jalloh was transferred to a residential reentry center in August 2024, released later that year, and was on probation and taking online classes at ODU at the time of the attack, with an unresolved question about how he qualified for a drug-treatment early-release program typically closed to terrorism offenders.
- Gives new specifics on the Michigan Temple Israel attack: Ayman Mohammad Ghazali allegedly waited about two hours outside with a rifle, commercial‑grade fireworks and jugs believed to be gasoline before ramming the building, firing through his windshield, exchanging shots with an armed security guard and ultimately fatally shooting himself after his vehicle became stuck and caught fire.
- Clarifies that about 140 children and staff were inside the synagogue, that one security officer was knocked unconscious by the vehicle, and that the FBI describes the incident as targeted violence against the Jewish community but says it lacks enough evidence yet to classify it as terrorism.
12:29 AM
Man charged with selling stolen firearm used in Old Dominion shooting
New information:
- Confirms Chapman is formally charged with three counts of making false statements during firearm purchases (tied to 2021 transactions) and one count of selling a firearm without a license, with a maximum possible sentence of 35 years.
- Details that Jalloh entered an Old Dominion business-college classroom, asked if it was an ROTC class, and opened fire when told yes, killing the ROTC instructor before being fatally subdued by students, one of whom killed him with a knife.
- Specifies that the gun used was a Glock 44 .22-caliber pistol with a partially altered serial number and that Chapman admitted stealing it from a vehicle in Newport News about a year earlier and selling it to Jalloh for $100, producing the $100 bill for agents.
- Adds phone and contact evidence: Chapman and Jalloh, who met at work, spoke six times between March 5 and the day of the shooting, with the last call minutes before the attack; Jalloh’s phone next to his body led agents to Chapman.
- Clarifies prior ATF action: in 2021 Chapman was investigated for three straw purchases, admitted obtaining the guns illegally, and received only a warning letter and was asked to write an apology, with two guns later tied to a homicide scene and a third to a public-intoxication incident.
- Notes Chapman told investigators he knew Jalloh had spent time in prison but claimed he did not know Jalloh was a felon, and that Jalloh told him the gun was for protection as a delivery driver.
March 13, 2026
10:49 PM
Justice Department charges man accused of selling gun to Old Dominion shooter
New information:
- Identifies the accused gun seller as Kenya Chapman and specifies that he is charged with making a false statement during a firearm purchase and engaging in the business of firearms dealing without a license.
- Details that Chapman admitted stealing the .22‑caliber pistol about a year earlier from a car in Newport News, Virginia, and later selling it to Jalloh after meeting him at work.
- Reports that the pistol’s serial number was partially obliterated, complicating tracing, and that investigators used phone records showing multiple calls between Chapman and Jalloh in the week before the shooting to identify him.
- Reveals Chapman was investigated by federal authorities in 2021 for straw purchases, received a formal 'straw purchaser warning letter,' admitted to straw purchasing, wrote a letter of apology, and that the U.S. attorney’s office at the time declined to prosecute.
- Includes a statement from Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche saying Chapman will 'finally face the full weight of justice' for allegedly stealing and illegally selling the firearm to a 'convicted terrorist.'
- Adds detail that Jalloh twice confirmed it was an ROTC event before opening fire, and that one victim’s condition has improved from critical to fair.
9:43 PM
Virginia man charged with selling weapon used by Old Dominion university gunman
New information:
- Federal prosecutors have charged Virginia resident Kenya Chapman with making false statements related to selling the .22‑caliber weapon used by shooter Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, a convicted felon.
- According to an FBI affidavit, Chapman stole the .22‑caliber gun about a year before the Old Dominion shooting and sold it to Jalloh for $100 during the week of the attack.
- Jalloh was released from prison early in December 2024 after completing a drug‑treatment program, despite general rules that bar terrorism convicts from such early‑release programs, and he was still on supervised release at the time of the shooting.
- ATF investigated Chapman in 2021 for three alleged straw purchases whose guns later turned up at crime scenes, including a homicide, but the Biden‑era Justice Department declined to prosecute and instead directed ATF to issue him a warning letter.
- Chapman admitted in 2021 to selling those guns and wrote an apology letter, according to the affidavit.
3:44 PM
Old Dominion University ROTC cadets disarm ISIS supporter shouting 'Allahu Akbar' during shooting: officials
New information:
- FBI Director Kash Patel publicly credited a group of students with disarming and subduing shooter Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, saying their actions 'terminated' the threat and saved lives.
- FBI Special Agent in Charge Dominique Evans specified that 'brave ROTC members in that room' confronted and subdued Jalloh, confirming they prevented further attack.
- Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger issued a statement identifying the slain instructor as Lt. Col. Brandon Shah and praising him as a 'devoted ROTC instructor' who taught others to serve.
- Fox cites multiple sources confirming Jalloh’s 2017 federal conviction for providing material support to ISIS and his release from custody in 2024, matching but reinforcing earlier reporting.
- Article reiterates that Jalloh shouted 'Allahu Akbar' as he opened fire and that one victim was transported to a local hospital while another drove to a Virginia Beach facility; both were in stable condition Thursday afternoon.
2:12 PM
ROTC students at Old Dominion University killed shooter who left 1 dead, 2 wounded
New information:
- FBI Special Agent in Charge Dominique Evans said ROTC students "subdued" the gunman Mohamed Bailor Jalloh and "rendered him no longer alive," confirming he was not shot and that their actions directly stopped the attack.
- FBI Director Kash Patel stated on social media that the classroom shooting is being investigated as an act of terrorism.
- Evans said Jalloh had aspired to conduct a terrorist attack similar to the 2009 Fort Hood killings.
- Old Dominion University Police Chief Garrett Shelton said less than 10 minutes elapsed between the first call about the shooting and responders confirming the shooter was dead, and authorities have not yet fully determined his precise cause of death or whether any officers fired a weapon.
- Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, identified earlier as the ROTC instructor killed, is additionally described here as the son‑in‑law of Voorhees University in South Carolina.
- Two of the people shot were confirmed by Army Cadet Command to be members of the Army ROTC program at Old Dominion University.
1:57 PM
Old Dominion gunman identified as ex-National Guardsman previously jailed for ISIS support
New information:
- CBS identifies the gunman by name as Mohamed Bailor Jalloh.
- Confirms he is a former Virginia National Guardsman.
- States he pleaded guilty in 2016 to providing (attempting to provide) support to ISIS.
1:47 PM
Old Dominion shooter was previously convicted of Islamic State ties
New information:
- Confirms via court documents that Mohamed Bailor Jalloh pleaded guilty in October 2016 to providing material support to ISIS and was sentenced in 2017 to 11 years in prison, with credit back to his July 2016 arrest.
- Specifies that Jalloh was released from federal custody on Dec. 23, 2024, and remained on supervised release that was scheduled to run into 2029 when he carried out the ODU attack.
- Details the 2016 FBI sting operation, including Jalloh’s discussions of a Fort Hood–style attack, his attempted $500 donation to ISIS that actually went to an FBI‑controlled account, and his efforts to purchase an AR‑15–style rifle that agents rendered inoperable.
- Reports that DOJ originally sought a 20‑year sentence based on his efforts to join ISIS and plan a murder plot, while the defense asked for about 6½ years and placement in a facility offering residential drug treatment.
12:24 PM
Four US service members dead after aircraft goes down in Iraq and more top headlines
New information:
- Fox reports that the Old Dominion University shooter shouted 'Allahu Akbar' before beginning the classroom attack that killed ROTC instructor Lt. Col. Brandon Shah and wounded others.
- This religious exclamation detail was not included in the prior summary and could factor into how FBI and the public interpret motive or ideological influence, especially given the suspect’s prior ISIS-support conviction.
12:00 PM
Two shootings intensify DHS standoff as GOP warns of rising terror threats
New information:
- Fox briefly references the Old Dominion University shooting as occurring 'Thursday' and emphasizes that the suspect had previously been imprisoned for supporting ISIS before killing one person and injuring two others.
- Republican leaders are now bundling the Old Dominion shooting with the Michigan synagogue attack and other recent incidents to argue that 'we've had terrorist attacks right here in the homeland — two in the last two weeks' as they push to reopen DHS.
11:45 AM
FBI investigates attacks in Michigan and Virginia. And, Senate passes housing bill
New information:
- NPR confirms the Old Dominion shooter’s identity as 36‑year‑old Mohamed Bailor Jalloh from Sterling, Virginia, consistent with prior reporting, but frames his trajectory as apparent radicalization after his 2015 honorable discharge from the Virginia Army National Guard.
- NPR reiterates his 2017 federal conviction and 11‑year sentence for attempting to provide material support to ISIS, noting he was released in 2024 and on supervised release.
- NPR emphasizes that the FBI is treating the ROTC classroom shooting as an act of terrorism, citing both his prior ISIS‑related conviction and witness reports that he yelled “Allahu Akbar.”
8:45 AM
Morning news brief
New information:
- NPR’s brief again notes that the FBI is investigating the Virginia classroom attack (the Old Dominion University incident) as one of two unrelated attacks under active federal review.
- The segment underscores that, like the Michigan case, this remains an open FBI investigation of national concern as of March 13, 2026.
7:10 AM
ROTC students at Old Dominion University subdued and killed the shooter who killed 1 person, wounded 2, FBI says
New information:
- 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.
6:48 AM
Old Dominion shooter convicted of Islamic State ties released from prison just 2 years before attack
New information:
- 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.'
4:17 AM
Sen Schmitt reups push for expanding denaturalization after recent acts of violence by naturalized citizens
New information:
- 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.
2:47 AM
Brave ROTC students credited with stopping deadly shooting at Old Dominion
New information:
- 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.
March 12, 2026
9:04 PM
Old Dominion University shooter identified as Mohamed Jalloh, former National Guard member, ISIS supporter
New information:
- 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."
7:12 PM
One Dead, Two Injured in Shooting at Old Dominion University
New information:
- 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.
5:45 PM
Gunman who injured 2 people at Old Dominion University in Virginia is dead, college says
New information:
- 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.
4:13 PM
Attack at Old Dominion University leaves 2 injured, shooter dead
New information:
- 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.