The quiet routine of a military training class at Old Dominion University shattered in seconds on the morning of March 12. Inside a classroom filled with Army ROTC students in Norfolk, Virginia, a gunman stormed in, shouted a religious phrase, and opened fire. When the chaos settled, a respected instructor lay dead, two students were wounded, and the gunman himself was gone—stopped by the very cadets he targeted.
Authorities say the attacker was 36-year-old Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, a former Virginia National Guard member who had previously served time in federal prison for attempting to support the Islamic State group. Jalloh had been released in 2024 after serving years behind bars for the terrorism-related conviction. Investigators believe the shooting is tied to extremist motivations, and federal agents quickly launched a terrorism investigation.
The attack unfolded shortly before 11 a.m. inside a classroom used by the university’s Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program. According to investigators, Jalloh walked into the room and asked if the class belonged to ROTC. When someone confirmed it, he shouted “Allahu Akbar” and began shooting with a .22-caliber Glock 44 pistol.
The gunfire struck Lieutenant Colonel Brandon Shah, the ROTC instructor leading the class that morning. Shah, a decorated U.S. Army officer and veteran with multiple overseas deployments, died from his injuries. Two ROTC cadets were also shot and rushed to the hospital. Both survived the attack, though one was initially listed in critical condition.
But the shooter’s rampage did not last long. Several ROTC cadets rushed the gunman in a desperate attempt to stop him. In a violent struggle inside the classroom, the students tackled and subdued Jalloh. One cadet fatally stabbed him during the fight, ending the threat before police arrived.
Officials later praised the cadets for their bravery, saying their quick actions likely saved many lives. The classroom had been full of students preparing for military leadership, and investigators believe the shooter deliberately targeted them.
In the days following the tragedy, federal investigators traced the weapon used in the attack. The gun—a stolen Glock pistol with a partially altered serial number—had reportedly been sold to Jalloh for just $100. That discovery quickly led agents to another suspect.
The U.S. Department of Justice has now filed federal charges against Kenya Chapman, a Virginia man accused of illegally selling the stolen firearm to Jalloh. Prosecutors say Chapman admitted he took the gun from a vehicle and sold it to the attacker earlier this month. Authorities say he claimed he did not know about Jalloh’s criminal history or intentions.
Old Dominion University shut down campus operations immediately after the shooting as dozens of police officers and emergency responders flooded the area. Students were ordered to shelter in place until authorities declared the campus safe. University leaders later announced counseling services and support for the shaken community.
As investigators continue to piece together the timeline of the attack, the university community is remembering Lt. Col. Brandon Shah not just as a soldier, but as a mentor. Those who knew him say he devoted his career to guiding young cadets and preparing them for service.
For many at Old Dominion, the story of that morning is one of terrible loss—but also of remarkable courage from the students who stepped forward when it mattered most.
