Guard students stop shooter at university

An unexpected act of violence struck Old Dominion University when a former guard member, who had once tried to join the Islamic State, opened fire in the business school. Within ten minutes of police being called, the shooter was found dead on campus, and two people were injured—one remains in critical condition.

The Perpetrator’s Troubled History

• Jalloh, a naturalized U.S. citizen from Sierra Leone, served in the Army National Guard until 2015 when he was honorably discharged.
• After leaving the guard, he reportedly listened to extremist sermons and began planning an attack similar to the 2009 Fort Hood shooting.
• Authorities had already tracked him in a sting operation where he attempted to buy an AR‑15 and divert donated money through the FBI.
• During his 2016 trial, prosecutors highlighted his extremist ideology linking violence against U.S. soldiers to religious salvation.
• He was sentenced to 11 years in prison, with five years of supervised release and mandatory treatment for substance abuse and mental health issues. He is ineligible for sentence reduction due to the terrorism-related nature of his crime.

Community Impact

Norfolk, home to a large naval base and accustomed to military life, was shocked by the tragedy. The incident underscores the complex challenges of post‑release monitoring and community safety.