A shooter opened fire in a classroom at Old Dominion University in Norfolk on Thursday, killing one person and leaving two injured before ROTC students subdued and killed him. The shooter, Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, was a former National Guard member from Sterling. He had spent eight years in prison for attempting to aid ISIS.
The shooting is currently being investigated as an act of terrorism, according to the FBI. Jalloh reportedly shouted “Allahu Akbar” before opening fire.
“The brave ROTC students in that room subdued him, and if not for them, I’m not sure what else he may have done,” FBI special agent Dominique Evans said in a news conference. Jalloh was not shot, but Evans did not share further details.
Gunman’s Background
A naturalized U.S. citizen from Sierra Leone, Jalloh served in the Virginia Army National Guard from 2009 until 2015, the Associated Press reported.
Jalloh, then 26, pleaded guilty in 2016 for attempting to aid the Islamic State and was sentenced to 11 years in prison. He had planned to carry out an attack like the 2009 attack in Fort Hood, Texas, Evans said. He was on supervised release when he conducted this week’s shooting.
The FBI did not provide an update on the status of the two injured victims. The victim who died was Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, a professor of military science for ODU’s ROTC program. Shah was an alumnus of ODU and flew helicopters as a pilot in the Army.
“Lt. Col. Brandon Shah was killed today in his classroom at Old Dominion University. 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,” Gov. Abigail Spanberger wrote on X Thursday night.
FBI Seeks Tips
The FBI’s investigation into the shooting is ongoing, Evans said. The FBI will be continuing to look at forensic evidence and is asking the public to come forward with any information about the incident.
“We remind the public that any detail, no matter how small, could be useful. A collection of those small details may help paint a complete picture,” Evans said. Tips can be submitted to fbi.gov/odushooting.
Classes at ODU were cancelled Friday, and counselors will be present on the campus to provide support for the school community.
Feature image, stock.adobe.com
