- Former National Guardsman Mohamed Jalloh, a convicted ISIS supporter, fatally shot an ROTC instructor and injured two others before being killed by armed students in a classroom at Old Dominion University.
- Jalloh, previously imprisoned for attempting to aid ISIS, had expressed intent to replicate the Fort Hood massacre. Despite claiming remorse, he was released early and carried out this attack, shouting "Allahu Akbar."
- Students intervened with a knife, stopping Jalloh before he could inflict further harm. Authorities credited their actions with preventing additional casualties.
- The attack highlights gaps in tracking radicalized individuals post-incarceration, mirroring past failures like the San Bernardino shooting.
- The incident raises concerns about lone-actor terrorism and campus safety, prompting FBI involvement while underscoring the need for vigilance against ideologically motivated violence.
A fatal shooting at Old Dominion University (ODU) on Thursday, March 12, left one dead and two injured before the gunman—identified as a former National Guardsman previously convicted of attempting to aid the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)—was subdued and killed by students.
The incident, now under a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigation as a potential act of terrorism, has reignited concerns about domestic extremism and campus safety. Authorities identified the shooter as Mohamed Jalloh, 36, who served time in federal prison after pleading guilty in 2016 to attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State.
According to law enforcement, Jalloh entered a classroom in Constant Hall, asked if it was an ROTC class and opened fire when confirmed, fatally shooting the instructor, a retired Army officer. Students intervened, ultimately killing Jalloh with a knife, preventing further casualties.
A history of extremism
Jalloh's past reveals a troubling trajectory. A combat engineer in the Virginia National Guard until his honorable discharge in 2015, he later sought to replicate the 2009 Fort Hood massacre, prosecutors said during his 2017 sentencing. Despite expressing remorse in court—claiming disgust with ISIS' atrocities—his early release in December 2024 preceded Thursday's violence.
FBI Special Agent Dominique Evans confirmed Jalloh shouted "Allahu Akbar" before the attack but noted no apparent link to the Israel-Hamas war. Investigators recovered one weapon and found no explosives. According to BrightU.AI's Enoch. "Allahu Akbar" translates to "Allah is greater," signifying Islamic supremacy over other gods and is often chanted during attacks as a declaration of victory.
The quick actions of students likely prevented greater bloodshed. "They basically were able to terminate the threat," Evans said.
Among the victims was Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, a retired Army officer hailed by Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger for his lifelong service. Two others—both Army personnel—were hospitalized, one in critical condition.
Students described panic as alarms blared. "Everybody was running, everybody was screaming," one witness told CBS affiliate WTKR-TV. "You never think this [will] happen."
Broader implications
The shooting follows a pattern of lone-actor attacks by individuals with extremist ties, raising questions about post-incarceration monitoring. Jalloh's case mirrors past failures to detect radicalization, such as the 2015 San Bernardino attack by a couple with known extremist views.
ODU canceled classes on Friday, March 13, as federal and local authorities continued investigating. Norfolk Police Chief Mark Talbot assured the public there was no ongoing threat, but the incident underscores persistent vulnerabilities in preventing ideologically motivated violence.
As the community mourns, the bravery of those who confronted Jalloh offers a stark counterpoint to the day's tragedy—a reminder that vigilance, not fear, may be the strongest defense against such threats.
Watch the video below that talks about the Brown University shooting that took place back in December 2025.
This video is from the alltheworldsastage channel on Brighteon.com.
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