ROTC Students Subdue and Kill Shooter Who Killed One, Wounded Two at Old Dominion University

An armed individual opened fire in an Old Dominion University classroom on March 12, 2026, shouting “Allahu Akbar,” killing one person and wounding two, and was subdued and killed by ROTC students as the FBI opened a terrorism investigation.

“ROTC students subdued and killed a gunman who yelled “Allahu Akbar” before opening fire Thursday in an Old Dominion University classroom, killing one and wounding two, according to the FBI,” reported The Daily News.

Anadolu Agency

Investigators said the attacker “asked whether it was an ROTC class before opening fire and shouting “Allahu Akbar,”” according to Military.

The Guardian noted that “Earlier today, an armed individual opened fire at Old Dominion University, leaving one person dead and two others wounded,” and that the suspect “was subdued and killed by members of the university’s ROTC program in a university classroom,” while Politico reported that “The shooting is being investigated as an act of terrorism, FBI Director Kash Patel said in a social media post.”

Authorities identified the suspect as Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Sierra Leone and a former Virginia Army National Guard member who had pleaded guilty in 2016 to attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State; he had been released from federal custody in December 2024 after serving an 11-year sentence.

Multiple outlets reported that “Federal officials identified the suspect as Mohamed Jalloh, a 36-year-old former member of the Virginia Army National Guard” (Military) and that “The suspected shooter, Jalloh, is a naturalized U.S. citizen from Sierra Leone” (WRAL).

BBC

The Los Angeles Times said “Jalloh, a former member of the Army National Guard, was sentenced to 11 years in prison and was released from federal custody in December 2024,” while the Las Vegas Sun recounted the 2016 sting and attempted support for Islamic State activities in its reporting.

Officials and local authorities described the immediate campus response: police secured the building, the university went into temporary lockdown and later suspended operations while counseling and support services were made available, and state and federal agencies mobilized to assist.

Military reporting said “Police from multiple agencies responded quickly to the campus after the emergency alerts were issued,” while the Chicago Tribune noted that “Within about an hour of the shooting, ODU declared that there was no longer a threat on the campus.”

The Chicago Tribune added that “The public university in Norfolk canceled classes and suspended all operations on its main campus through Friday.”

WRAL added that “Counseling and food services will remain available,” and The Tribune-Democrat confirmed updates and corrections as the situation evolved.

Authorities and officials credited the ROTC students’ actions with preventing additional casualties, and witnesses and leaders responded with praise and grief: FBI and local officials called the students’ response “extreme bravery,” relatives and officials sought information, and leaders announced support for the campus community.

Dominique Evans of the FBI’s Norfolk office said the ROTC cadets showed “extreme bravery and courage” in subduing the attacker (The Daily News; Military).

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FBI Director Kash Patel wrote that the students’ actions “undoubtedly saved lives along with the quick response of law enforcement” (Politico; NewsNation).

NewsNation also reported eyewitness student Logan Hayes saying he “heard about a multitude of gunshots go off and people just screaming,” and Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger posted that “state support is being mobilized” to help ODU (Chicago Tribune; WRAL).

The shooting’s human toll and aftermath include identification of the instructor killed—Lt. Col. Brandon Shah—medical transport and treatment for victims, and an uncertain ongoing investigation with federal agencies on scene.

“(With inputs from agencies”

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NewsNation reported that “ROTC instructor Lt. Col. Brandon Shah was killed in the attack.”

Las Vegas Sun

The Chicago Tribune and WRAL gave details on hospital transport: “According to Sentara Health, two of the Old Dominion University victims were transported by ambulance to the Level I trauma center at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital” and “One of those patients has passed away. The other remains in critical condition.”

The ATF and other federal agencies were reported on scene to assist, and officials urged the community to avoid the area as investigators continued work (Chicago Tribune; WRAL; The Tribune-Democrat).