Fatal shooting at Virginia university investigated as act of terrorism, FBI says | Virginia

The suspect who killed one person and injured two others at Old Dominion University on Thursday was identified by authorities as Mohamed Jalloh, a former army national guard member who pleaded guilty in 2016 to attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State.

Dominique Evans, special agent in charge of the FBI’s Norfolk field office, told reporters that the suspect was trying to commit an “act of terrorism” and shouted “Allahu Akbar” before opening fire. He said he was subdued and killed in a college classroom by members of the university’s ROTC program and praised them for showing “extreme bravery and bravery” and preventing further loss of life. (ROTC is a university-based program that allows students to train to become U.S. military officers and also earn a college degree.)

FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau is investigating the incident as an “act of terrorism.”

“Earlier today, a gunman opened fire at Old Dominion University, killing one person and wounding two others,” Patel said in a statement on social media. “The shooter has now lost his life thanks to a group of brave students intervening and subduing him, actions that, along with the rapid response of law enforcement, undoubtedly saved lives.

Evans did not provide further details on how the suspect died, other than confirming that the gunman was not shot. He said the ROTC cadets “made him no longer alive” and added: “I don’t know how else to say this.”

In 2017, Jalloh was sentenced to 11 years in prison. He was released from federal custody in December 2024.

Old Dominion University police Chief Garrett Shelton said at a news conference Thursday afternoon that officers responded after receiving reports that people had been shot in one of the classrooms in Constant Hall, the university’s business school building.

After the university initially said there were two victims, Shelton said authorities learned there was a third victim who brought them to the hospital.

He did not acknowledge whether any officers fired a weapon.

He said all three victims had ties to the university. Shelton said authorities are “very early” in the investigation and have not yet determined the shooter’s “exact cause of death.”

In less than 10 minutes, the call came in, officers arrived and they determined the shooter was dead, the chief said.

Lt. Col. Jimmy Delongchamp, public information officer for the U.S. Army cadet command at Fort Knox, Kentucky, told The Associated Press that the two wounded men were members of reserve officer training units at ODU.

“We will continue to coordinate with the university and law enforcement as we investigate the incident,” Delongchamp said in a brief phone interview. “We still have a lot to figure out.”

Two of the victims were transported by ambulance to the Level I trauma center at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, according to Sentara Health. One of these patients died. The condition of the other is critical.

A third person was treated and released from the Sentara Independence freestanding emergency room in Virginia Beach after arriving in a personal vehicle, Sentara Health said.

About an hour after the shooting, ODU announced there was no longer a threat on campus.

The public university in Norfolk canceled classes and suspended all activities at its main campus through Friday and urged people to avoid Constant Hall and the surrounding area while emergency officials continued to work. Consultancy and food services will continue.

ODU president Brian Hemphill said in a message to the university community that the school is facing a tragedy on campus. He expressed gratitude for the quick emergency response and thoughts and prayers for those affected.

“The safety of our campus community is my top priority,” Hemphill wrote. “We are deeply committed to protecting all Monarchs and providing a safe learning, living and working environment at all times.”

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said on social platform X that there were agents at the scene supporting the response.

Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger said in social media posts that she was monitoring the situation and that “state support is being mobilized” to assist ODU. He did not provide detailed information.

Located on the coast of Norfolk, Old Dominion University has approximately 24,000 students, including 17,500 undergraduates.