A gunman with prior convictions for supporting ISIS opened fire in a classroom at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, on March 12, 2026, killing one person and wounding two others before being subdued and killed by students. The FBI is investigating the incident as an act of terrorism. The attack targeted an ROTC class, and authorities have identified the shooter as Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, a 36-year-old former National Guardsman.
On March 12, 2026, at around 10:43 a.m., Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, a 36-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen from Sierra Leone and former Virginia National Guardsman, entered a classroom in Constant Hall at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. According to reports, Jalloh asked if the class was an ROTC course and, upon confirmation, opened fire, shooting a professor—a retired military officer—several times. The professor died at the hospital. Two ROTC members, identified as Army personnel, were wounded and transported to a local hospital for treatment, while a third victim sought medical care independently.
Students in the classroom responded heroically, subduing and killing Jalloh with a knife, an action that FBI officials credited with saving lives. FBI Special Agent in Charge Dominique Evans stated during a press conference, “There were students that were in that room that subdued him and rendered him no longer alive. They basically were able to terminate the threat.” Evans also noted that Jalloh yelled “Allahu Akbar” during the attack. First responders arrived by 10:47 a.m., and Jalloh was pronounced dead at 10:50 a.m.
Jalloh had a history of terrorism-related activities. In 2015, he pleaded guilty to attempting to provide material support to ISIS, including sending $500 to an undercover FBI agent he believed was an ISIS member and praising the 2015 Chattanooga shooting that killed five soldiers. He had traveled to Africa that year, meeting an ISIS recruiter in Sierra Leone and attempting to join the group in Niger and Libya, though those plans did not materialize. Sentenced to 11 years in prison plus five years of supervised release, Jalloh was released early in December 2024.
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed on social media, “The shooter is now deceased thanks to a group of brave students who stepped in and subdued him—actions that undoubtedly saved lives along with the quick response of law enforcement.” He added, “The FBI is now investigating the shooting as an act of terrorism. Our Joint Terrorism Task Force is fully engaged, embedded with local authorities, and providing all resources necessary in the investigation.”
In response, Old Dominion University President Brian Hemphill canceled all classes, stating, “The safety of our campus community is my top priority.” U.S. Army Cadet Command expressed sorrow, confirming two ROTC members were shot and treated. Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll noted the injured were Army personnel. The incident occurred hours before a separate attack on a Michigan synagogue.
