Old Dominion University Shooting: ROTC Students Subdue Gunman with Prior ISIS Ties

NORFOLK, Va. — A shooting at Old Dominion University (ODU) in Virginia on Thursday, March 12, 2026, left one person dead and two others injured before the gunman was subdued by ROTC students. The FBI has identified the shooter as 36-year-old Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, a former member of the Army National Guard with a prior conviction for attempting to provide material support to ISIS.

Details of the Shooting

According to Dominique Evans, Special Agent in Charge of the Norfolk FBI Field Office, Jalloh shouted “Allahu Akbar” before opening fire in a classroom at Constant Hall, the university’s College of Business. He reportedly entered a classroom and asked if it was an ROTC class before initiating the shooting.

The quick actions of ROTC students prevented further casualties. Evans stated they “subdued him” and “rendered him no longer alive.” Reports indicate an ROTC student fatally stabbed Jalloh. FBI Director Kash Patel praised the students, stating their actions “undoubtedly saved lives.”

ODU Police Chief Garrett Shelton confirmed two victims were initially in stable condition, with a third individual seeking treatment at a hospital in Virginia Beach. Two of the victims are members of the university’s ROTC program, according to U.S. Army Cadet Command.

Who Was Mohamed Bailor Jalloh?

Mohamed Bailor Jalloh was a naturalized U.S. Citizen originally from Sierra Leone. He enlisted in the Virginia Army National Guard at age 19. In 2017, Jalloh was sentenced to 11 years in prison and five years of supervised release for attempting to provide material support to ISIS, according to the Department of Justice USA Today.

Prosecutors revealed Jalloh attempted to assist what he believed was an ISIS-directed attack in the U.S., including attempting to acquire weapons and providing funds to someone he thought was connected to the group. He was released from prison in December 2024.

Investigation and University Response

The FBI is investigating the shooting as an act of terrorism, with its Joint Terrorism Task Force working alongside local authorities AP News. The FBI has urged anyone with information about Jalloh or the shooting to contact them through fbi.gov/odushooting.

Old Dominion University canceled classes for the remainder of the day on March 12 and again on Friday, March 13, to provide counseling and support to the campus community. A Family Information Center was established at Chartway Arena, and counseling services were made available at Broderick Dining Commons.

Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger stated she was closely monitoring the situation and in contact with university leadership NBC Washington.

Witness Accounts

Students on campus described a chaotic scene. Logan Hayes, an ODU sophomore, was taking a test when the fire alarm sounded and he fled Constant Hall, hearing “a multitude of gunshots” and people screaming. Another student, Zachary Mulder, said he immediately left the area when he sensed danger.