University Students Thwart Terror-Linked Gunman in Classroom Attack
Norfolk, Friday, 13 March 2026.
ROTC cadets successfully neutralized a convicted terrorist who opened fire at Old Dominion University, halting a deadly attack that has sparked a high-level FBI terrorism investigation.
A Campus Disrupted by Terror
The attack unfolded shortly before 11:00 a.m. at Constant Hall, which houses Old Dominion University’s College of Business in Norfolk, Virginia [6]. The active threat on Thursday [alert! ‘Sources provide conflicting dates of March 6, March 11, and March 12 for the incident; Thursday aligns with the March 12 timeline noted by university officials’] prompted an immediate campus-wide lockdown and a total suspension of university operations [3][7]. The assailant, identified as Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, opened fire in a classroom, resulting in the death of retired military officer and ROTC instructor Lt. Col. Brandon Shah [1][2]. Two other individuals, confirmed to be enrolled in the university’s Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program, were critically injured and transported to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital [5][7].
The Shooter’s Radicalized Past
Federal authorities quickly identified the deceased shooter as a known radicalized insider threat. Jalloh previously served as a combat engineer in the Virginia Army National Guard from April 2009 to April 2015, a tenure spanning 6 years [1][2]. His military background took a dark turn when he was arrested in 2016 and subsequently pleaded guilty to attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State (ISIS) [2][6]. Court records indicate Jalloh had harbored intentions of conducting a terrorist attack akin to the 2009 mass shooting at Fort Hood, Texas, which claimed 13 lives [2].
Heroic Intervention by ROTC Cadets
The death toll was undoubtedly mitigated by the immediate and decisive actions of the students present. ROTC cadets in the classroom actively engaged the gunman, successfully subduing him and terminating the threat before law enforcement could intervene [1][2]. Dominique Evans, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk field office, confirmed the effectiveness of the students’ response, noting that they “subdued him, and rendered him no longer alive” [2].
Ongoing Investigations and University Operations
The FBI has officially classified the shooting as an act of terrorism, citing Jalloh’s prior ISIS-related conviction and his statements during the attack [2][5]. The Joint Terrorism Task Force is currently embedded with local authorities to track down every lead and establish a comprehensive understanding of the event [5]. Special Agent Evans emphasized the necessity of this rigorous investigation to verify all information and ensure Jalloh was not receiving external support or funding for the attack [5]. Additionally, the Virginia Attorney General’s office is collaborating closely with investigators to support the legal and procedural aspects of the response [7].