Old Dominion Shooting: A Troubling Tale of a Former Guard and Terrorist Links

A 36‑year‑old former Virginia National Guard member, Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, opened fire at Old Dominion University on Thursday. The attack targeted a room where Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) students and active‑duty military members were meeting. Jalloh shouted “Allahu Akbar” before shooting, killing Lieutenant Colonel Brandon Shah and injuring two others. He was later found dead in the building.

Investigators revealed that Jalloh had been arrested in 2016 for attempting to provide weapons and money to ISIS. He tried to buy an AR‑15–style rifle, but the gun was disabled before he left the shop. He had spoken with an FBI informant about planning attacks, even suggesting timing them for Ramadan. Jalloh received 11 years in prison and was released early in December 2024 after completing a drug‑treatment program, despite his terrorism conviction.

After release, Jalloh lived with family in Sterling, Virginia and was taking online courses at Old Dominion. A probation officer visited his home only twice a year, and neighbors described the family as quiet. No clear warning signs were reported during his time out of prison.

During the shooting, Jalloh entered a class in Constant Hall, asked if it was an ROTC event, then opened fire. Students rushed him; one stabbed him and the others helped subdue him. Police arrived within minutes, but Jalloh was already dead by 10:50 a.m.

The gun used in the attack had been sold illegally. The seller, Kenya Mcchell Chapman, was arrested on Friday. A cellphone found near Jalloh’s body helped police track his movements in the days before the attack, showing he moved between several Virginia locations.

The incident raises questions about how people with terrorism convictions are monitored after release and how quickly a dangerous individual can act when given access to weapons.