Fatal shooting at Virginia university investigated as act of terrorism, FBI says | Virginia

The suspect who killed one person and injured two others Thursday at Old Dominion University has been identified by authorities as Mohamed Jalloh, a former National Guard member who pleaded guilty in 2016 to attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State.

Dominique Evans, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Norfolk office, told reporters the suspect attempted to commit an “act of terrorism” and shouted “Allahu Akbar” before opening fire. He was overpowered and killed by members of the university’s ROTC program in a university classroom, she said, praising them for showing “extreme bravery and courage” and preventing further loss of life. (ROTC is a college program that allows students to train to become a U.S. military officer while earning a college degree.)

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger identified ROTC instructor Lt. Col. Brandon Shah as the victim killed in the shooting.

“A dedicated ROTC instructor, Lt. Col. Shah not only led a life of service to our country, he taught and led others to follow that path,” she wrote on social media.

Kash Patel, the director of the FBI, said the bureau was investigating the incident as an “act of terrorism.”

“Earlier today, a gunman opened fire at Old Dominion University, leaving one person dead and two others injured,” Patel said on social media. “The shooter is now deceased thanks to a group of courageous students who intervened and subdued him – actions that undoubtedly saved lives as well as the rapid response of law enforcement.

Evans did not provide further details on how the suspect died except to confirm that the shooter was not shot. She said the ROTC students “made him dead,” adding, “I don’t know how else to say it.” »

In 2017, Jalloh was sentenced to 11 years in prison. He was released from federal prison in December 2024.

At a news conference Thursday afternoon, Old Dominion University Police Chief Garrett Shelton said officers responded after receiving reports that people had been shot in one of the classrooms in the university’s business school building, Constant Hall.

After the university initially said there were two victims, Shelton said authorities learned there was a third victim who went to the hospital.

He did not say whether officers fired a weapon.

He said all three victims were affiliated with the university. Shelton said authorities were “very early” in the investigation and had not yet determined the shooter’s “complete cause of death.”

Within 10 minutes the call came in, officers arrived and determined the shooter was dead, the chief said.

Lt. Col. Jimmy Delongchamp, public information officer for the U.S. Army Cadet Command at Fort Knox, Ky., told The Associated Press that the two injured people were members of the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps at ODU.

“We will continue to coordinate with the university and law enforcement as they investigate the incident,” Delongchamp said in a brief telephone interview. “We still have a lot of things to sort out.”

One patient remains in critical condition at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, according to Sentara Health.

Another person was treated and released from the free-standing Sentara Independence emergency department in Virginia Beach after arriving in a personal vehicle, Sentara Health said.

About an hour after the shooting, ODU said there was no longer a threat on campus.

The public university in Norfolk canceled classes and suspended all operations on its main campus until Friday and urged people to avoid the area in and around Constant Hall while emergency services continued to work. Counseling and catering services will remain available.

In a message to the university community, ODU President Brian Hemphill said the school is dealing with a tragedy on campus. He expressed his gratitude for the rapid emergency response and his thoughts and prayers to those affected.

“The safety of our university community is my top priority,” Hemphill wrote. “We are deeply committed to protecting all monarchs and ensuring a safe learning, living and working environment at all times.”

Located on the Norfolk coast, Old Dominion University has approximately 24,000 students, including 17,500 undergraduates.