Old Dominion University Shooting: Attacker Identified as Former Guard Member Convicted of Supporting ISIS

Federal investigators are treating the shooting at Old Dominion University (ODU) in Norfolk, Virginia, as an act of terrorism after identifying the attacker as 36-year-old Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, a naturalized U.S. citizen and former Virginia National Guard combat engineer. The attack killed Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, an ROTC instructor, wounded two other university-affiliated people and ended when students in the room subdued the gunman.

What Happened

Officials say the gunman entered a classroom or ROTC meeting in Constant Hall, the main building for ODU’s College of Business, and twice asked whether the event was an ROTC gathering. Moments later, investigators say, he shouted “Allahu Akbar” and opened fire. Students quickly rushed the attacker, subdued him and reportedly stabbed him; authorities later found the attacker dead at the scene. The firearm used in the attack was purchased illegally, and a seller has been arrested in connection with that sale.

About the Attacker

Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, born in Sierra Leone, served as a combat engineer in the Virginia National Guard from 2009 to 2015. He was identified by federal investigators as the perpetrator of Thursday’s attack. After the shooting, investigators used a cellphone recovered near the attacker’s body to help retrace his recent movements.

Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, 36-year-old Old Dominion University shooting gunman, is pictured. - Facebook

Prior Conviction and Early Release

In 2016 federal authorities investigated Jalloh after he communicated with an FBI source while attempting to obtain weapons and to send money to ISIS. Court documents say he discussed possible timelines for an attack and referenced the 2009 Fort Hood shooting. In 2017 Jalloh pleaded guilty to attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization and was sentenced to 11 years in prison plus five years of supervised release.

Jalloh served time at a low-security federal facility in Allenwood, Pennsylvania. In August 2024 he was transferred to a residential reentry center (halfway house) in the Baltimore area and was released from federal custody in December 2024 under a provision that can permit early release after completion of a substance-abuse treatment program. The Bureau of Prisons later changed policy (effective September 25, 2025) to bar inmates with terrorism-related convictions from eligibility for that early-release provision.

Investigation and Timeline

Federal agents continue to reconstruct Jalloh’s movements and motives, including his activities in the year after his release. Court filings indicate he traveled repeatedly in Virginia in the days before the attack among his home, the university campus, another residence and an Islamic center. He was reportedly taking online classes at Old Dominion and was under supervised release with probation visits to his residence documented twice a year; the most recent visit recorded was in November 2025.

Police arrive at Old Dominion University's campus in Norfolk, Virginia, after reports of an active shooter on Thursday. - John Clark/AP

Legal Follow-Up and Community Response

Prosecutors say the pistol used in the campus shooting was obtained illegally; authorities arrested Kenya Mcchell Chapman in connection with the sale. University and federal officials continue to investigate whether warning signs were present during the roughly year Jalloh spent outside custody and whether any supervision lapses occurred. ODU and law-enforcement partners have emphasized the rapid response by students and first responders that limited further harm.

Context and Sensitivity

Note: The phrase “Allahu Akbar” — Arabic for “God is greatest” — is a common devotional expression used by millions of Muslims worldwide. Religious leaders and scholars point out that extremists sometimes misuse this phrase during violence, a distortion of its spiritual meaning.

What Remains Unclear

Investigators have not publicly released a definitive motive beyond Jalloh’s prior conviction and documented interest in extremist material. Officials are still determining the exact cause of the attacker’s death, whether additional charges will be filed in connection with the weapon’s sale, and whether other individuals had knowledge of or assisted in planning the attack.

Reporting: Federal authorities and local law enforcement continue to investigate; the facts in this article reflect the latest available public records and court filings.