ODU ROTC Cadets Describe Lt. Col. Shah Stopping Campus Shooter
Old Dominion University ROTC cadets say Lt. Col. Rakesh Shah confronted a campus shooter during a recent attack at the Norfolk, Virginia campus to protect students.
Cadets told Fox News their training kicked in after the shooter killed Shah, whom they called "heroic." They said other cadets helped move students to safety while faculty and police secured the scene. Social media and the university community quickly praised Shah's actions, sharing tributes and calling him a hero.
Cadets said years of Reserve Officers' Training Corps drills prepared them to respond calmly under fire and execute evacuation procedures. Their accounts have sharpened discussions about campus preparedness and the risks instructors face when confronting armed attackers.
đ Key Facts
- Cadets say shooter Mohamed Jalloh entered an Old Dominion University ROTC class on March 12, 2026 and asked if it was ROTC before opening fire.
- Lt. Col. Brandon Shah allegedly closed the distance with the gunman and was killed while stopping the attack, according to his cadets.
- ROTC cadets report using their medical and defensive training to treat Shah and other wounded students and to engage the shooter until he was killed at the scene.
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