A gunman who killed one person and wounded two others at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia on Thursday had previously been imprisoned for attempting to support ISIS, law enforcement sources confirmed to CBS News.
Background
Jalloh walked into a classroom in Constant Hall, which houses part of the College of Business at Old Dominion University, and asked if the class was an ROTC course. When someone confirmed it was, Jalloh opened fire, authorities said.
The class instructor, a retired Army officer, was fatally injured. Two additional victims were taken to a Norfolk hospital, while a third victim transported themselves to a hospital in Virginia Beach. All three victims were affiliated with the university, according to Old Dominion Police Chief Garrett Shelton. Two of the victims were Army personnel, Army Secretary Dan Driscoll confirmed on social media.
At his 2017 sentencing hearing before U.S. District Judge Liam O'Grady, Jalloh expressed deep regret for his actions, according to a transcript reviewed by CBS News. "I've made a lot of mistakes in my life, but this mistake of giving any support to the violent and extreme organization ISIS has been the most devastating one I have ever decided to make in my life," Jalloh said.
The Investigation
The shooting is being investigated as a terror-related attack. FBI Director Kash Patel credited students and law enforcement with preventing the tragedy from escalating further.
"The shooter is now deceased thanks to a group of brave students who stepped in and subdued him – actions that undoubtedly saved lives along with the quick response of law enforcement," Patel said in a statement.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives deployed agents to the scene. Norfolk Police Chief Mark Talbot said there was no ongoing threat to the coastal Virginia city.
The university announced it would remain closed on Friday, March 13. An all-clear notification was sent to the campus community just after noon on Thursday.
Key Takeaways
- The shooter has been identified as Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, 36, a former Virginia National Guardsman
- Jalloh was convicted in 2016 of attempting to provide material support to ISIS and sentenced to 11 years
- He was released from federal prison in December 2024, nearly 14 months before the shooting
- One victim, a retired Army officer and class instructor, was killed; two others were wounded
- The shooting is being investigated as a terror-related attack
- Students reportedly subdued the shooter before police arrived
What's Next
The Norfolk Police Department and FBI continue to investigate the attack, including determining the shooter's exact cause of death. Authorities have not yet released the names of the victims. The university will remain closed Friday as the campus community processes the tragedy, which occurred just hours before a separate attack on a Michigan synagogue.