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NORFOLK, VA — A devastating shooting at Old Dominion University (ODU) on Thursday was halted by the swift and courageous actions of Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) students, who tackled and neutralized an armed assailant linked to the Islamic State (IS). The incident left one person dead and two others wounded, including one victim in critical condition.
The Attack and Immediate Response
The shooting occurred at approximately 10:43 a.m. local time within a campus classroom. According to Dominic Evans, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Norfolk Field Office, the gunman, identified as Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, opened fire on students after reportedly shouting "Allahu Akbar" (God is greatest).
The chaos was cut short not by law enforcement, who were still en route, but by student-cadets enrolled in the university’s ROTC program. These students, trained for military leadership, bypassed the natural instinct to flee, instead moving toward the sound of gunfire to subdue Jalloh.
"The threat was neutralized because of the ROTC students on the scene," Agent Evans stated during a press briefing. "Without their intervention, there is no telling how much further this suspect’s rampage would have gone. Their bravery undoubtedly saved lives today."
The Suspect's Radicalized Past
Investigations into Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, a native of Sierra Leone, reveal a long and troubled history with extremism and federal law enforcement. Jalloh had previously served in the Virginia Army National Guard, enlisting at the age of 19 in 2009. However, his life took a radical turn years later.
In 2016, Jalloh was convicted of attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State. Prosecutors at the time revealed that Jalloh had been in contact with an undercover FBI agent whom he believed was an IS operative. During those interactions, Jalloh expressed support for mass-casualty attacks on U.S. soil and facilitated a $500 donation intended for the terrorist organization.
After serving a prison sentence, Jalloh was released in 2024. The FBI confirmed he was found deceased at the scene following the struggle with the ROTC cadets, though officials have not yet specified the exact cause of death.
A Community in Shock
The Norfolk community and the ODU student body remain in a state of shock as the campus remains under heavy security. University officials have canceled classes for the remainder of the week to provide counseling services to students and faculty.
"Today we saw the worst of humanity and the best of our students," a university spokesperson said. "While we mourn the loss of a member of our Monarch family, we are profoundly grateful for the courage displayed by those who stood up to protect their peers."
The FBI and local police are continuing to investigate whether Jalloh acted entirely alone or if there were any modern directives from extremist groups that prompted the timing of the attack.
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