Lieutenant Colonel Brandon Shah, 42, an ODU Army ROTC professor and veteran who flew AH-64 Apaches in Iraq and Afghanistan, was killed in a shooting on Old Dominion University's Norfolk campus. Shah logged more than 1,200 flight hours and graduated from ODU in 2007. Officials described him as a devoted mentor and family man; Virginia ordered flags at half-staff in his honor. The FBI has opened a terrorism investigation and authorities say two other university-affiliated people were injured while the shooter was also killed.
Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, ODU ROTC Instructor and Iraq/Afghanistan Veteran, Killed in Norfolk Shooting
Police block an entrance road after a gunman opened fire at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, U.S., March 12, 2026, in a still image from video. ABC Affiliate WVEC via REUTERS.
Lieutenant Colonel Brandon Shah, 42, an Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps professor of military science at Old Dominion University and a native of Chesapeake, Virginia, was killed in a shooting Thursday on the university's Norfolk campus. Shah died of gunshot wounds sustained during the attack; two other university-affiliated people were also injured and the shooter was killed.
Service and Career
Shah enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2003 and enrolled at Old Dominion University in 2005. He earned his Army commission and graduated from ODU in 2007 with a bachelor's degree in sociology. As an Army pilot, Shah flew the AH-64 Apache in operations over Iraq and Afghanistan, logging more than 1,200 flight hours — roughly 600 of them on combat missions — across three aircraft, Old Dominion University President Brian Hemphill said.
Tributes and Response
University officials and state leaders paid tribute to Shah's leadership and service. President Hemphill described him as "a beloved and respected leader" who "personally guided students in the Army ROTC Monarch Battalion through his caring spirit and combat experience." Hemphill added that Shah "embodied what it means to be a devoted family man, a revered leader, and heroic protector even in his final moments."
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger ordered that U.S. and Virginia flags be flown at half-staff on all state and local government buildings and grounds in Shah's memory.
Background
Shah's family traces its roots to Pakistan. A cousin told NBC News that Shah was born in the United States after his father immigrated from Pakistan.
Investigation
The FBI has opened a terrorism investigation into the shooting, which killed Shah and wounded two others. Local and federal authorities are continuing their inquiries into the circumstances and motive.
Note: All facts in this report are based on statements from Old Dominion University, statements by public officials and reporting attributed to NBC News and Reuters.
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