The gunman who opened fire on the campus on Old Dominion University Thursday morning, killing one person and injuring two others has been identified as Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, a former Army National Guard member who was previously jailed for his links to ISIS, according to the FBI.
Jalloh pleaded guilty in 2016 to attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State and was sentenced to 11 years in prison. He was released from federal custody in December 2024.
The shooting on Thursday that left two people dead, including Jalloh, is being investigated as an act of terrorism, FBI Director Kash Patel said in a social media post. He said the shooter is dead because of “a group of brave students who stepped in and subdued him.”
Their actions “undoubtedly saved lives along with the quick response of law enforcement,” Patel said.
Old Dominion University Police Chief Garrett Shelton said authorities are “very early” in the investigation and have not yet determined the “full cause of death” of the shooter.
The shooting unfolded around 10:49 a.m. in Constant Hall, an academic building on the school’s Norfolk, Virginia, campus. After the university initially said there were two victims, Shelton said authorities learned that there was a third victim who brought themselves to a hospital. He later confirmed that one of the injured had died. The two others are in stable condition.
The victims have not been identified. Lt. Col. Jimmy Delongchamp, public information officer for the U.S. Army Cadet Command at Fort Knox, told The Associated Press that the two people wounded are members of the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps at ODU.
Jennifer, a sophomore at the school, told WVEC recalled hearing a group of people saying, “get out, get out, get out.”
“All of a sudden, we heard a commotion. A lot of people rumbling, starting to get up,” she said. “The guy next to me, we looked at each other, we started running, and that’s when we heard, you know, gunshots.”
The school sent out an urgent alert at 10:48 a.m. about an active threat in the building. In an alert sent at 11:30 a.m., the school described the incident as an “active shooter situation” and said the shooter had been “neutralized.”
Shortly before 11:45 a.m., the school announced there is “no longer a threat at Old Dominion University.” Officials have yet to publicly identify the suspected gunman or those who were hurt.
“Old Dominion University has canceled classes and operations on main campus for the remainder of the day,” the school said in a statement. “Please avoid the area in and around Constant Hall where emergency personnel continue to work.”
The public university has more than 23,000 students. Constant Hall, which has two lecture halls and 19 classrooms, serves as the “hub for the College of Business at Old Dominion University,” according to the school’s website.
Norfolk Public Schools has placed three elementary schools under a secure hold in response to the incident, 13News Now reports.
“All students and staff are secure, and we are following established safety protocols. We will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available,” a spokesperson for the district told the outlet.
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger issued a statement on X, saying, “I’m closely monitoring the on-campus shooting at Old Dominion University. I have spoken with university leadership. My Administration remains in close contact with local emergency responders as state support is being mobilized to assist ODU and Norfolk.”
She added, “I encourage students, faculty, and community members to continue following guidance issued by local law enforcement. I thank all first responders on the scene.”
FBI director Kash Patel said the agency’s “personnel are providing assistance and working with local authorities responding to the shooting at Old Dominion University.” “We will update as able,” he added.
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