Shortly before Thursday afternoon at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, a gunman opened fire inside a classroom in Constant Hall, the university’s business school. Three people were shot; one later died in hospital and two were injured. The suspect, identified by the FBI as Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, was also found dead after students—members of the ROTC programme—restrained him, and the FBI has opened a terrorism investigation. Officials said the suspect had a prior 2016 conviction for attempting to support the Islamic State and had been released from prison in 2024.
Key Takeaways
- Location and timing: The shooting occurred in Constant Hall at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, on Thursday afternoon; authorities responded within minutes.
- Casualties: Three people were shot in the classroom; one victim died later in hospital and two were injured, including at least two Army personnel.
- Suspect: The FBI identified the alleged gunman as Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, a former Virginia National Guard member with a 2016 conviction for attempting to provide material support to IS; he was sentenced in 2017 and released in 2024.
- How incident ended: Students in the classroom—reported to be ROTC cadets—subdued the attacker; officials said the suspect was dead when officers arrived.
- Terrorism probe: The FBI is investigating the shooting as an act of terrorism because of the suspect’s prior conviction and reports he shouted a religious phrase before the attack.
- Official statements: FBI and university officials, including the Norfolk FBI field office and Old Dominion police, led the public updates; federal and campus authorities remain involved.
- Related events: The shooting occurred hours before a separate vehicle-ramming incident at a Michigan synagogue and school; that incident resulted in one injured security guard who is expected to recover.
Background
Old Dominion University is a public research university in Norfolk, Virginia, with a sizable cadet population participating in the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC). ROTC combines college coursework with military leadership training and places students and instructors who are active-duty, reservists, or veterans in campus classrooms. Campus shootings have repeatedly raised concerns about security at higher-education institutions across the United States; university buildings often present challenges for rapid threat detection and civilian response.
The alleged shooter, Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, previously pleaded guilty in 2016 to attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State and received a sentence in 2017, according to the Norfolk FBI field office. He was released from prison in 2024. Authorities say his earlier intent included plans for an attack modeled on the 2009 Fort Hood shooting, a precedent often referenced in domestic-terrorism assessments. Those prior contacts with the justice system are central to why the FBI has classified this incident as a terrorism investigation.
Main Event
University police and local officers were dispatched after reports of gunfire inside Constant Hall, the business school building at Old Dominion University. Law enforcement sources told CBS News that the suspect entered a classroom, asked whether it was an ROTC class, and then opened fire after receiving an affirmative response. Within the classroom, students confronted the attacker; several ROTC members subdued him and rendered him no longer alive, officials said.
When officers arrived, the shooter was already dead, Old Dominion Police Chief Garrett Shelton reported. Three people in the room had been shot; one victim later died in hospital and two were injured. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll said two of the victims were Army personnel, and CBS News reported the deceased victim was the class instructor, a retired military officer, a detail that officials have not fully corroborated publicly.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Dominique Evans of the Norfolk field office described the students’ actions and confirmed the suspect had a prior conviction related to Islamic State support. FBI Director Kash Patel credited the students’ intervention and law enforcement’s quick response with preventing further casualties. The FBI said it is treating the episode as an act of terrorism because of the suspect’s criminal history and reported statements made immediately before the shooting.
Analysis & Implications
Investigating this shooting as terrorism raises questions about post-release monitoring and risk assessment for individuals previously convicted of extremist-related offenses. Jalloh’s 2016 conviction for attempting to support IS and his release in 2024 will be scrutinized to determine whether probationary or supervisory measures were in place and if any warning signs were missed. Legal experts note that past convictions do not uniformly predict future violence, but they do shape the scope of a terrorism inquiry and prosecutorial options.
The response inside the classroom—students restraining the attacker—highlights a growing trend of civilians intervening in active-shooter situations. ROTC training emphasizes leadership and calm under pressure, which may have contributed to the students’ ability to act. At the same time, reliance on bystander intervention underscores uneven prevention: not all campuses or classrooms will have trained personnel present, and many security advocates argue for improved detection and rapid-lockdown protocols.
At a policy level, the incident is likely to prompt renewed debate over campus security funding, mental-health services, and the balance between open academic spaces and protective measures. Policymakers may also revisit how information about individuals with extremist convictions is shared among federal, state, and university authorities while respecting legal limits on surveillance and civil liberties. Internationally, classifying an on-campus shooting as terrorism can affect interagency cooperation and resource allocation for the investigation.
Comparison & Data
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Constant Hall, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA |
| Casualties | 3 shot in classroom; 1 died later in hospital, 2 injured |
| Suspect | Mohamed Bailor Jalloh — former Virginia National Guard member; 2016 conviction; released 2024 |
| Apparent responders | ROTC students subdued suspect; university and local law enforcement arrived afterward |
The table above summarizes the verified facts released by officials to date. While specific timestamps for the shooting and law-enforcement arrival have not been provided publicly, authorities described a rapid on-scene response and immediate medical transport for the wounded. Comparisons with past campus attacks show variable outcomes depending on response time, the presence of trained responders inside classrooms, and the ability to evacuate or shelter in place quickly.
Reactions & Quotes
“They subdued him, and rendered him no longer alive,”
Dominique Evans, Special Agent in Charge, Norfolk FBI field office
Evans offered that summary while outlining the suspect’s prior conviction and the decision to treat the incident as a terrorism probe.
“[The shooter died] 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,”
FBI Director Kash Patel
Patel credited the students and law enforcement for limiting further casualties and called attention to the rapid containment of the attacker.
“I’m praying for them and all those impacted by this terrible event,”
Army Secretary Dan Driscoll
Secretary Driscoll identified two victims as Army personnel and expressed concern for those affected, highlighting the incident’s impact on military-affiliated students and staff.
Unconfirmed
- Whether the classroom instructor was the person killed: CBS News reported the deceased was the class instructor, a retired military officer; officials have not fully confirmed that identity publicly.
- Exact cause of the suspect’s death inside the classroom: officials said students subdued him and that he was not shot, but details about how he died have not been released.
- Whether the suspect acted alone or had any operational accomplices: investigators have not publicly confirmed any co-conspirators or external direction.
- Precise motive beyond prior conviction: while the FBI cites past support for IS and reported statements during the incident, investigators have not published a definitive motive.
Bottom Line
This shooting at Old Dominion University left one person dead and two injured and is being treated by the FBI as a terrorism investigation because of the suspect’s prior conviction for attempting to support the Islamic State. The rapid intervention by students in the classroom prevented further harm and is central to how the event was contained. Authorities will now focus on reconstructing the timeline, establishing the suspect’s motive and planning, and determining whether any procedural lapses in supervision or monitoring occurred after the suspect’s 2024 release.
For the public and university community, the episode underscores persistent tensions between open academic environments and the need for security measures. Expect follow-up reporting on official charging decisions, forensic findings about how the suspect was subdued and died, and any policy responses regarding campus safety and post-release oversight of individuals convicted on extremist-related charges.
Sources
- BBC — news report (primary source for this summary)