Convicted ISIS Backer Identified as Fatal ODU Shooting Perpetrator, Officials Confirm

Law enforcement has confirmed the identity of the gunman who carried out a deadly attack at Old Dominion University on Thursday. The shooter, Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, 36, of Sterling, Virginia, was previously convicted of aiding ISIS, according to senior officials. He was also fatally wounded during the incident, which occurred in Constant Hall on the Norfolk campus.

FBI Director Attributes Life-Saving Actions to Student Intervention

FBI Director Kash Patel highlighted that a group of students likely prevented further casualties by subduing the attacker. “Their courage and quick thinking most likely saved lives,” he stated on X. The incident is now being treated as a potential act of terrorism.

Shooting Details and Casualty Updates

The university issued an emergency alert at 10:48 a.m. warning of an active threat. By 11:30 a.m., officials declared the situation an “active shooter” event, confirming the suspect had been neutralized. Two injured individuals were transported to a hospital and are reported stable. A third victim arrived independently and is also in stable condition, though their identity remains undisclosed.

Of the casualties, one person died, and ODU Police Chief Garrett Shelton mentioned efforts to contact the family. The victims include two ROTC program members, as reported by WAVY, a local NBC affiliate. “Two students from the university’s ROTC were shot and taken to a local hospital,” the U.S. Army Cadet Command confirmed in a statement.

Prior Conviction and Terrorist Ties

Jalloh’s history with ISIS dates back to 2016, when he attempted to purchase an AK-47 in North Carolina. The gun seller declined the sale, prompting him to buy an AR-15 locally on July 2, 2016. He was arrested the following day and later pleaded guilty to conspiring to provide material support to the Islamic State. The court sentenced him to 11 years in prison, with five years of supervised release.

According to federal records, Jalloh was released in 2024 after serving 85% of his sentence. During his 2017 sentencing, he sent gift card codes to an FBI agent, believing them to be ISIS members. The prosecution had sought a 20-year term, but his defense argued he acted out of “gullibility and passivity.”

“This entire crime is not who I am, it’s not who I plan to be, and it’s not who I have been,” Jalloh told the judge during his 2017 hearing.

University Response and Regional Impact

Following the attack, Old Dominion University suspended classes for the remainder of the day and closed the campus on Friday. The school emphasized that the immediate threat had been eliminated but urged students to avoid the affected area. Norfolk Public Schools noted that nearly all high school students from the city were visiting the campus for a tour at the time of the shooting.

Gov. Abigail Spanberger stated she was closely monitoring the situation, with her administration coordinating state resources to assist ODU and local responders. “My Administration remains in close contact with emergency personnel as support is mobilized,” she said on X.