An ISIS-linked gunman opened fire inside a classroom at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, on Thursday, killing a decorated Army officer and injuring two others before being stopped by students in the room.
Federal authorities say the suspect, a former Army National Guard member previously convicted of supporting the Islamic State, carried out what investigators are now treating as an act of terrorism.
The attacker was identified as 36-year-old Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, who entered a classroom in Constant Hall and asked if it was an ROTC class before opening fire.
The class instructor, Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, was fatally shot during the attack.
Two additional people were wounded and transported to the hospital, including one who remained in critical condition Thursday evening, according to officials.
Authorities said ROTC students in the classroom quickly acted to stop the attacker, preventing what could have been a far deadlier incident.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Dominique Evans praised the students’ response, saying they showed “extreme bravery and courage” when they confronted the gunman.
According to investigators, the students subdued him and “rendered him no longer alive,” effectively ending the attack within minutes, WTOP News reported.
FBI Director Kash Patel also credited the students’ actions with preventing additional loss of life.
“The shooter is now deceased thanks to a group of brave students who stepped in and subdued him—actions that undoubtedly saved lives along with the quick response of law enforcement,” Patel wrote on X.
During the attack, authorities said the gunman shouted “Allahu Akbar,” an Arabic phrase meaning “God is Great,” before opening fire.
Investigators confirmed the suspect had previously been the subject of a federal terrorism case and had long expressed extremist sympathies tied to the Islamic State, according to CBS News.
Jalloh had pleaded guilty in 2016 to attempting to provide material support to ISIS after investigators uncovered a plot involving plans to attack U.S. military personnel.
According to court filings, he had communicated with individuals linked to the terrorist organization and attempted to purchase a rifle to carry out a potential attack before federal agents intervened.
Prosecutors previously said Jalloh also attempted to donate money to ISIS and explored plans for violence inspired by the 2009 Fort Hood terrorist attack that killed 13 people.
Federal officials ultimately arrested him after a sting operation revealed he had purchased a rifle he intended to use in a domestic terror plot.
Despite prosecutors seeking a 20-year prison sentence, a federal judge ultimately sentenced him to 11 years in prison.
Jalloh was released from federal custody in December 2024 after serving roughly eight years behind bars.
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) confirmed the fallen victim as Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, a longtime military officer who led the university’s ROTC program.
“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,” the governor said in a statement, according to ABC News.
Shah was a veteran of multiple U.S. military operations and had returned to Old Dominion in 2022 to lead and mentor future Army officers through the ROTC program.
His death has prompted tributes from military leaders and university officials who described him as a dedicated mentor and patriot who devoted his career to serving the nation.
The shooting triggered an emergency alert across campus around 10:50 a.m., instructing students and faculty to follow “Run-Hide-Fight” protocols while law enforcement responded, Just the News reported.
The university later canceled classes and suspended operations for the remainder of the day as authorities secured the area and launched a full investigation.
Federal and local officials say the incident underscores the ongoing threat posed by radicalized individuals inside the United States.
Investigators from the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force are continuing to examine the attacker’s background, contacts and potential motivations behind the deadly assault.
