Ex-National Guard Soldier With ISIS Past Identified as Gunman in Deadly Old Dominion University Shooting

By: Ariella Haviv

A shocking act of violence shattered the calm of Old Dominion University’s Norfolk campus on Thursday when a gunman with a documented history of ties to the Islamic State stormed into a classroom and opened fire on a Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) session, killing a retired military officer who was serving as the instructor.

Authorities have identified the suspect as Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, a 36-year-old former member of the Virginia National Guard who previously served prison time after being convicted of attempting to provide material support to ISIS. According to a report on Thursday in The New York Post, Jalloh carried out what investigators now believe may have been a deliberate act of terrorism before being stopped by a courageous ROTC cadet who confronted him inside the classroom.

Federal authorities, including the FBI, have launched a sweeping investigation into the incident, which unfolded inside Constant Hall, one of the university’s academic buildings. The attack left the instructor dead and two cadets injured, though both surviving victims were reported to be in stable condition.

The killing has stunned the academic community and raised urgent questions about how a previously convicted terrorism offender was able to reenter civilian life before allegedly carrying out a lethal attack on a university campus.

According to law enforcement sources cited by The New York Post, the attack began when Jalloh entered a classroom where an ROTC course was underway. Witnesses told investigators that the suspect asked a chillingly direct question upon entering.

He reportedly asked whether the class was an ROTC training session. When someone in the room confirmed that it was, the suspect allegedly produced a firearm and began shooting.

The instructor—a retired military officer whose name had not yet been publicly released at the time of early reports—was struck multiple times and later pronounced dead at a nearby hospital.

Old Dominion University Police Chief Garrett Shelton confirmed at a press conference that one person had been killed and two cadets injured. “Old Dominion University faced a tragedy on our main campus,” university president Brian Hemphill said in a statement following the incident.

Hemphill praised the swift actions of emergency personnel. “I am grateful for the rapid response of our police officers, emergency management teams, and the Norfolk Police Department, whose coordinated efforts helped bring the situation under control,” he said.

Perhaps the most remarkable moment of the incident occurred when one of the ROTC cadets reportedly intervened to stop the attacker. According to law enforcement officials cited by The New York Post, the cadet acted decisively after the instructor had already been fatally wounded.

The cadet confronted the gunman and stabbed him, ultimately killing the attacker and preventing further bloodshed. Officials say the intervention likely saved multiple lives. Investigators believe that without the cadet’s immediate action, the suspect could have inflicted far greater casualties among the students present in the classroom.

Authorities have not yet released the cadet’s identity, but university officials and law enforcement agencies have privately praised the student’s bravery.

The seriousness of the incident prompted immediate involvement by federal authorities. FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed that the bureau is treating the shooting as a potential act of terrorism. “The FBI is investigating this incident as an act of terrorism,” Patel said in a statement.

Agents from the bureau are working closely with local law enforcement and university officials to reconstruct the events leading up to the attack. According to The New York Post report, investigators are examining whether Jalloh acted alone or if he may have been inspired or influenced by extremist ideology connected to international terrorist groups. Authorities are also reviewing the suspect’s past communications, travel history, and digital footprint.

The revelation that the suspected attacker had previously been convicted in a terrorism-related case has intensified scrutiny of the circumstances surrounding his release from prison.

As The New York Post reported, Jalloh was sentenced in 2017 to 11 years in federal prison after being convicted of attempting to provide material support to ISIS. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Jalloh had once served in the Virginia National Guard, but later became radicalized and developed ties to extremist networks. He reportedly became an ardent follower of Anwar al-Awlaki, the influential American-born cleric who became a leading figure in Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula before being killed in a U.S. drone strike in 2011.

The DOJ said Jalloh traveled to Africa for six months, where he connected with individuals affiliated with the Islamic State. During one meeting—secretly monitored by an FBI informant—Jalloh allegedly expressed a desire to conduct his own terrorist attack. According to court documents cited by The New York Post, he reportedly said that planning an attack during Ramadan would be “100 percent the right thing.”

When Jalloh returned to the United States, authorities said he attempted to obtain firearms as part of his plan. He first tried unsuccessfully to purchase guns in North Carolina. Later, he traveled to a gun dealer in northern Virginia. According to the Justice Department, the dealership sold him an assault rifle, though the weapon had been rendered inoperable before he left the store. The next day, federal agents arrested him. His conviction ultimately resulted in a lengthy prison sentence.

Despite the original sentence of 11 years, Jalloh was released from federal prison in December 2024, according to information reported by The New York Post. The circumstances surrounding his early release remain unclear. The newspaper reported that it contacted the Department of Justice seeking clarification about why the suspect had been freed before completing his full sentence.

As of the time of reporting, officials had not publicly explained the decision. The revelation has already sparked debate about the risks associated with releasing individuals previously convicted of terrorism-related offenses.

Following Jalloh’s original arrest years ago, members of his family publicly defended him. According to statements reported by The New York Post, his brother Cherner Jalloh argued that the case had been exaggerated. He claimed the FBI had manipulated his sibling. “The FBI used his love for those being oppressed against him,” he told reporters at the time.

Jalloh’s sister Mariatu Jalloh also suggested that investigators had misinterpreted his actions. She said authorities were “connecting dots” that did not actually reflect his intentions. Those claims were rejected by prosecutors, who argued that the evidence demonstrated a clear effort by Jalloh to assist ISIS.

During his sentencing hearing, Jalloh expressed remorse for his involvement with the terrorist organization. According to court transcripts cited by The New York Post, he apologized and said his connection to ISIS was the worst mistake of his life. “I’m very, very sorry for what I have done,” he said at the time. He insisted he had not intended to harm anyone and claimed he was disgusted by ISIS atrocities. Despite those statements, prosecutors maintained that his conduct demonstrated a dangerous level of radicalization.

Another key question investigators are now trying to answer is why Jalloh appeared at Old Dominion University in the first place. According to The New York Post, it remains unclear whether the suspect had any affiliation with the university. Authorities are investigating whether he was a former student, had acquaintances on campus, or simply chose the location as a target because of the ROTC program.

The possibility that the attack was directed specifically at a military training class is a major focus of the federal investigation.

News of the attack spread quickly across Old Dominion University, leaving students and faculty shaken. Campus security officials quickly locked down the area while emergency responders secured the building. Students described scenes of panic as the situation unfolded. University counseling services have been mobilized to assist those traumatized by the event. President Hemphill said the institution is committed to supporting the community during the difficult days ahead.

The shooting has also reignited a national conversation about security threats posed by individuals previously convicted of terrorism-related crimes. Experts note that cases involving former extremists reentering society after prison are among the most challenging issues facing counterterrorism authorities.

According to analysts cited by The New York Post, monitoring individuals after their release requires extensive resources and coordination between federal, state, and local agencies. The Old Dominion University attack may now prompt renewed scrutiny of those procedures.

As investigators continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the attack, the university community is mourning the loss of a respected instructor and retired military officer who had dedicated his post-service career to mentoring the next generation of service members.

Memorials are already being planned for the fallen instructor, whose commitment to military education and leadership had made him a prominent figure within the ROTC program. University leaders say the bravery displayed by the cadet who stopped the attacker prevented an even greater tragedy.

For now, Old Dominion University finds itself grappling with the aftermath of a devastating act of violence—one that has transformed a routine classroom session into a moment of profound loss and national concern.