FBI Director Kash Patel announced that the recent shooting incident is being investigated as a potential act of terrorism.
NORFOLK, Va. — During a harrowing incident at Old Dominion University, ROTC students in a classroom managed to overpower and neutralize a shooter who had tragically taken one life and injured two others, according to the FBI on Thursday.
Dominique Evans, the special agent leading the FBI’s Norfolk field office, disclosed at a news conference that the suspect, identified as Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, allegedly shouted “Allahu Akbar” before opening fire inside Constant Hall, a building dedicated to business classes on the university’s campus. Evans praised the ROTC students for their “extreme bravery and courage,” which she credited with preventing further casualties.
The students were able to subdue the shooter, ensuring he was “rendered no longer alive,” as Evans put it. She expressed uncertainty about how to describe the situation further.
Evans did not elaborate on the specifics of how the gunman was subdued, confirming only that he was not shot.
While all three victims were affiliated with the university, authorities have not disclosed whether they were faculty members or students.
FBI Director Kash Patel said the shooting was being probed as an act of terrorism.
The Associated Press said Jalloh is a former member of the Army National Guard who pleaded guilty in 2016 to attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State, according to a person familiar with the matter. Jalloh was sentenced to 11 years in prison and was released from federal custody in December 2024.
Earlier Thursday, in a statement, Kimberly Osborne, vice president for university communications and chief marketing officer at Old Dominion University, said, “We have an active threat on campus. Police and emergency responders are on scene. Additional details will be provided as soon as possible.”
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger said she was working with emergency responders at the university to learn more.
Where is Old Dominion University?
The university is located in Norfolk, Virginia. The university was originally established in 1930 as the College of William & Mary’s Norfolk division. It became an independent college in 1962 and attained university status in 1969.
Second shooting at the university in just over a year
The university experienced a separate shooting just over a year ago at the campus student recreation and well-being center.
On Feb. 26, 2025, authorities responded to reports of a shooting near the university’s campus around 10 p.m., where they found two men with life-threatening injuries. Those men later died of their injuries at a local hospital.
Neither of the men was a student of the university.
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