Old Dominion University Shooting: A former Army National Guardsman convicted of providing material support to ISIS opened fire in an Old Dominion University classroom on Thursday, killing one person and wounding two others before dying himself, authorities said. The FBI is treating the shooting as an act of terrorism .
The gunman was identified as Mohamed Jalloh, who was released from federal prison in December 2024 after serving about seven years of an 11-year sentence . He walked into Constant Hall, an academic building, around 10:43 a.m. and asked if the class inside was an ROTC course .
When someone said yes, he shot the instructor several times .
Who Was Mohamed Jalloh the ISIS Convict Shooter
Mohamed Jalloh was a former member of the Army National Guard. In 2016, he was convicted of attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State militant group, known as ISIS . Court records show Jalloh had communicated with an ISIS member located overseas. That person introduced him to someone in the US who was actually an FBI confidential informant. The overseas ISIS member believed Jalloh would help the informant carry out an attack .
During one meeting, the informant asked Jalloh about a timeline for an operation. Jalloh commented that it was better to plan an attack during the month of Ramadan, according to court records. Jalloh pleaded guilty in 2016. Prosecutors had recommended he serve 20 years in prison. In 2017, he was sentenced to 11 years .
He was released in December 2024. It is not immediately clear why he was released before serving his full term, though early release is not unusual in the federal prison system .
🚨 SLEEPER CELL ACTIVATED? Old Dominion University shooter ID’d as Mohamed Jalloh — former Army National Guardsman, convicted in 2016 for attempting to provide material support to ISIS. Naturalized citizen from Sierra Leone, released from federal prison in 2024, under JOE BIDEN. pic.twitter.com/G0V9cSKAZJ
— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) March 12, 2026
What Happened at Old Dominion University?
The shooting took place around 10:43 a.m. in Constant Hall on the ODU campus in Norfolk, Virginia . According to sources, Jalloh walked into a classroom and asked if it was an ROTC class. When someone answered yes, he shot the instructor multiple times .
Two of the victims were members of the university’s Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program, according to U.S. Army Cadet Command. Students in the ROTC class fought the shooter, an Army official told ABC News. Police arrived within minutes. The gunman was found dead inside the building. Authorities have not said how he died .
Who Were the Victims?
One person was killed. Two others were wounded . The victims include members of the ROTC program. Their identities have not been released pending notification of family .
The instructor who was shot multiple times was among those wounded .
How ROTC Students Fought the Gunman and Survived
Two wounded victims belonged to Old Dominion’s Reserve Officer Training Corps program and physically confronted Jalloh, delaying his attack and enabling others to escape. Sophomore Jennifer, waiting for a midterm exam nearby, heard urgent shouts of “get out, get out” followed by rumbling footsteps and gunfire. “We looked at each other and started running,” she told reporters, praising the university’s rapid alert system that guided hundreds to safety. Army Cadet Command confirmed the cadets’ bravery likely prevented greater loss of life.
Why FBI Calls This a Terrorist Attack, Not Random Violence
FBI Director Kash Patel issued a statement Thursday afternoon classifying the shooting “an act of terrorism.” Jalloh’s documented ISIS communications, preference for Ramadan operations, and deliberate targeting of military personnel established clear ideological motivation. The FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force immediately took lead alongside Norfolk police, university security, and Virginia State Police. The timing—Day 13 of the US-Israel-Iran war—heightens concerns about radicalized individuals exploiting global tensions for domestic attacks.
What Happened in the Chaotic Minutes After Gunshots Rang Out
Old Dominion University Police Chief Garrett Shelton said officers reached Constant Hall at 10:43 a.m., found Jalloh dead minutes later—cause undisclosed as investigation continues. SWAT teams swept every room, discovering terrified students and faculty hiding in closets, bathrooms, and behind lecture hall podiums. “We had to be thorough,” Shelton explained, noting the academic building’s four floors and dozens of classrooms. Parents rushed to campus; counseling services activated immediately for shaken students and staff.
FAQs
Q: Why did Jalloh target the ROTC classroom specifically.
A: Asked “Is this ROTC?” before shooting instructor multiple times confirming deliberate military target selection.
Q: How many ROTC cadets were shot during confrontation.
A: Two wounded members fought gunman delaying attack allowing classmate escapes.
Q: What shortened Jalloh’s 11-year federal prison sentence.
A: Released December 2024 likely standard good-time credits reducing sentences 15-54 days yearly.
Q: When does Old Dominion resume normal classes.
A: Cancelled Thursday Friday campus secured no ongoing threat confirmed.
Disclaimer: This information is based on inputs from news agency reports and ABC. TSG does not independently confirm the information provided by the relevant sources. The investigation is ongoing, and details may change as more information emerges.
