Ex-National Guardsman Linked to ISIS Kills Instructor in ODU ROTC Attack

A deadly shooting at Old Dominion University (ODU) in Norfolk, Virginia, has shaken the campus community after authorities identified the attacker as a former National Guard member previously convicted of attempting to support ISIS.

The suspect, Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, 36, allegedly entered a classroom inside Constant Hall on Thursday morning and asked if the class was part of the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program. When someone confirmed it was, he opened fire, killing a retired military officer who was teaching the class and wounding two ROTC cadets, according to law enforcement officials.

The attack quickly turned into a chaotic struggle for survival.

Cadet Stopped the Gunman

Authorities say a ROTC cadet rushed the gunman during the shooting and fatally stabbed him, stopping what could have become a far deadlier attack. Investigators say the cadet’s intervention likely prevented additional casualties.

Police responded within minutes after emergency calls reported gunfire inside the building. By the time officers secured the scene, the suspect was dead and the victims had been transported to nearby hospitals.

Two cadets injured in the attack were reported to be in stable condition, while the retired officer who had been instructing the class later died from his wounds.

Terrorism Investigation Underway

Federal authorities quickly opened a terrorism investigation into the shooting.

FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is working with local law enforcement to determine the full motive behind the attack.

Officials say Jalloh’s background has drawn immediate attention.

In 2016, he was arrested after an FBI investigation found he had attempted to provide material support to ISIS. He pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison before being released in December 2024, according to court records and reporting from multiple outlets.

Authorities are now examining how he obtained weapons and why he targeted an ROTC class specifically.

A Campus in Shock

Old Dominion University officials canceled classes and suspended operations after the attack as police swept the campus.

ODU President Brian Hemphill called the shooting a “senseless tragedy” and praised the rapid response of law enforcement and emergency personnel who secured the campus.

The university, which has roughly 24,000 students, maintains a close relationship with military programs due to its large ROTC presence and proximity to major naval bases in the Hampton Roads region.

Students described scenes of panic as gunshots rang out in the building, with many barricading themselves in classrooms or running across campus after emergency alerts warned of an active shooter.

The Heroism That Ended the Attack

While investigators continue to piece together the events leading up to the shooting, officials and witnesses have focused on the actions of the cadet who intervened.

By confronting the gunman directly, authorities say the student likely prevented additional deaths in the classroom, turning what could have become a mass-casualty event into a tragedy with far fewer victims.

The FBI and local police say the investigation is ongoing as they examine Jalloh’s background, possible ideological motivations, and how he carried out the attack.

For the ODU community, the shock of the shooting is still settling in—but many are already pointing to the bravery of a young cadet who stepped forward in a moment of chaos and stopped the gunman before the violence spread further.