One of the victims wounded in Thursday’s shooting inside a Reserve Officers’ Training Corps classroom at Old Dominion University has died, authorities confirmed.
The victim was identified Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, the head of the university’s Army ROTC program and a professor of military science.
Shah, a Virginia native and an ODU alumnus, enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2003 and has received numerous military commendations, including two Bronze Stars.
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Authorities say the shooting unfolded Thursday morning when the gunman entered the ROTC classroom and opened fire.
The suspected shooter was identified by the FBI as Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, a former Army National Guardsman who had previously been convicted of providing support to the terrorist group ISIS.
Jalloh was arrested in 2010 for attempting to provide material support to ISIS, sentenced in 2017 and released from prison in 2024, according to the FBI Special Agent in Charge Dominique Evans.
She also stated that witnesses reported that Jalloh shouted the Arabic phrase “Allahu akbar,” meaning “God is great,” before the shooting.
Evans said Jalloh is believed to have shot three people during the attack.
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Two victims were initially identified and taken to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, where Shah later died. A third victim reportedly sought treatment separately at Sentara Independence in Virginia Beach.
Evans declined to provide further details on the condition of the two surviving victims during her most recent briefing.
Students inside the ROTC classroom ultimately subdued Jalloh during the attack and killed him, bringing the shooting to an end.
“I’d like to acknowledge the students who showed extreme bravery and courage by containing the shooter and stopping further loss of life,” Evans said.
The FBI announced it has taken the lead in this investigation and is pursuing it as a possible terrorist attack at this time.
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