Gunman in fatal Old Dominion University shooting ID’d as convicted ISIS supporter, officials say
Convicted ISIS Supporter Identified as Fatal ODU Shooting Perpetrator
On Thursday morning, a gunman who attacked Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, was confirmed as Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, 36, a man with a prior conviction for supporting ISIS. Law enforcement officials, including two senior figures, informed NBC News that Jalloh, who also perished in the incident, was the assailant. FBI Director Kash Patel highlighted on X that students who intervened to stop the shooter may have prevented additional casualties, stating the event will be classified as a terrorist act.
Incident Details and Victims
The shooting occurred around 10:49 a.m. in Constant Hall, according to the university’s emergency alert. ODU Police Chief Garrett Shelton reported that two individuals were hospitalized, with their conditions described as stable. A third person arrived at the hospital independently. Shelton noted that one victim has died and that the family is currently being contacted. While the identities of the injured remain undisclosed, WAVY of Portsmouth reported that two of them are affiliated with the university’s ROTC program.
“We can confirm that two members of the university ROTC program were shot and taken to a local hospital for treatment,” stated the U.S. Army Cadet Command in a release.
Background and Previous Charges
Jalloh, a former Army National Guard member, was accused in a 2016 case of plotting to assassinate U.S. military personnel. According to federal records, he attempted to purchase an AK-47 in North Carolina but was denied. He later acquired an AR-15 from a local gun shop on July 2, 2016, and was apprehended the following day. Authorities alleged he had sent gift card codes meant for ISIS to an FBI undercover agent, as noted in a 2017 sentencing memo.
During his 2017 trial, Jalloh admitted guilt for providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization. He received an 11-year prison term and five years of supervised release. Bureau of Prison documents indicate he was released in 2024, as defendants must serve at least 85% of their sentence under federal law. His defense team emphasized his “gullibility, impressionability, and lack of sophistication” in the case.
“This entire crime is not who I am, it’s not who I plan to be, and it’s not who I have been,” Jalloh stated during his sentencing hearing.
University Response and Aftermath
ODU issued an urgent alert at 10:48 a.m. about an active threat, later upgrading the status to an “active shooter situation” by 11:30 a.m. The school confirmed the shooter was “neutralized” but offered no further specifics. As a precaution, classes were suspended on the main campus, and the university remained closed on Friday. Norfolk police and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ Washington field division were among the responding agencies.
Gov. Abigail Spanberger expressed ongoing concern, stating her administration was coordinating with local responders. “I have spoken with university leadership,” she noted on X, “and state support is being mobilized to assist ODU and Norfolk.” Norfolk Public Schools confirmed that students from nearly all high schools in the district were visiting the campus during the attack. A spokesperson assured WAVY that everyone is now safe.
University President Brian O. Hemphill praised the swift actions of law enforcement, reaffirming the institution’s commitment to campus safety. “We are deeply dedicated to protecting all Monarchs and maintaining a secure environment for learning, living, and working,” he said, emphasizing the priority of vigilance in ensuring safety.
