Old Dominion University Shooting Update: Lt. Col. Brandon Shah Killed, Shooter Identified as ISIS Supporter Released in December 2024
Old Dominion University remains closed Friday, March 13, 2026, as the FBI leads a terrorism investigation into Thursday's ROTC classroom attack that killed Lt. Col. Brandon Shah and injured two others. The gunman — a previously convicted ISIS supporter released from federal prison just 15 months ago — was killed by the very students he targeted.
Victim Identified: Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, Military Science Professor
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger identified the instructor Thursday night as Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, writing on social media that he "didn't just lead a life of service to our country, he taught and led others to follow that path."
The victim killed in the Old Dominion University shooting has been identified as a military science professor and ROTC instructor at the school. Shah was a retired Army officer who had dedicated himself to shaping the next generation of military leaders. He did not survive the attack.
What Happened Inside Constant Hall: Minute-by-Minute
The first ODU alert was sent to students and faculty at 10:50 AM ET Thursday reading: "O.D.U. Urgent Alert: Active threat reported at Constant Hall. Follow Run-Hide-Fight protocols. Emergency personnel responding. Avoid area."
ODU Police Chief Garrett Shelton said police received reports at 10:43 AM, officers arrived four minutes later, and by 10:50 AM it was determined the assailant was deceased. Within less than 10 minutes from the first call, the shooter was dead.
The shooter walked into a class at Constant Hall — part of the College of Business — and asked if it was an ROTC class. When someone confirmed it was, he opened fire, fatally injuring Lt. Col. Shah.
ROTC Students Killed the Gunman: "Brave Students Who Stepped In"
When a convicted ISIS supporter stepped into the ROTC classroom and opened fire, the group of students inside barely hesitated before leaping up to subdue their attacker. By the end of the struggle, the shooter was dead, but so too was one of their peers.
FBI Director Kash Patel said the shooter is dead because of "a group of brave students who stepped in and subdued him," adding that their actions "undoubtedly saved lives along with the quick response of law enforcement." It is still not formally confirmed whether the students used the shooter's own weapon or their hands, as authorities said they are still determining the full cause of death.
Shooter Identified: Mohamed Bailor Jalloh — ISIS Conviction, Released December 2024
The suspect was identified as 36-year-old Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, a former Virginia National Guardsman who pleaded guilty in October 2016 to attempting to provide material support to ISIS. He was sentenced to 11 years in prison in February 2017 and was released early in December 2024.
A court affidavit recounts a three-month FBI sting in which Jalloh said he was thinking about carrying out an attack similar to the 2009 Fort Hood shootings. He tried to donate $500 to ISIS — the money went to an FBI-controlled account — and purchased an assault rifle from a Virginia gun store, which was rendered inoperable by the seller without his knowledge.
When discussing the timeline for a possible attack, Jalloh expressed that it was better to plan an operation for Ramadan, according to an FBI affidavit. Thursday's attack fell during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in 2026.
Second Terror Incident Hours Later: Vehicle Attack on Michigan Synagogue
Shortly after the ODU attack, authorities said an individual drove a vehicle into a synagogue in Michigan outside of Detroit. He was found dead at the scene after exchanging fire with security guards. No one else was injured in the attack, and there was no immediate indication the two incidents were related.
ODU Closed Friday: Counseling, Support, and How to Get Help
Old Dominion University is closed Friday, March 13, 2026, at all locations. Classes are cancelled and operations are suspended. Counselors are available from 8:00 AM through 5:00 PM on main campus. Student counseling is available in Broderick Dining Commons. Faculty, staff, and community counseling is available in Student Government Chambers at Webb Center. Food services remain available for students in campus housing.
Three nearby Norfolk Public Schools also went into secure hold as a precaution during Thursday's incident. Old Dominion University has approximately 24,000 students — 17,500 undergraduates — and sits near Naval Station Norfolk, the largest naval station in the world. About 30 percent of its students are military-affiliated. Anyone with information related to the investigation is urged to contact the FBI's Norfolk field office.
