Authorities are investigating a fatal shooting at a Virginia college Thursday as an act of terrorism, FBI Director Kash Patel said.
The shooter was identified as Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, 36, of Sterling, Virginia, two senior law enforcement officials briefed on the matter told NBC News. He was also killed in the shooting.
Officials said the suspect was previously convicted of attempting to provide material support to ISIS.
FBI Director Kash Patel said on X that a “group of brave students who stepped in and subdued” the gunman most likely saved lives.
The shooter opened fire at about 10:49 a.m. in Constant Hall, the university in Norfolk, Virginia, said in an emergency alert.
Two victims were taken to the hospital and appear to be stable, ODU Police Chief Garrett Shelton said. A third victim took themselves to the hospital, he said at a news conference.
“One of the victims is deceased. And we’re working on getting in touch with the family at this point,” he said.
The victims have not been identified. Two of them are members of the school’s ROTC program, NBC affiliate WAVY of Portsmouth reported.
“We can confirm that two members of the university ROTC program were shot and were taken to a local hospital to treat their injuries,” U.S. Army Cadet Command told the station in a statement.
Officials said Jalloh was a former member of the Army National Guard and alleged that he targeted an ROTC class.
While law enforcement officials have not yet confirmed a motive, federal authorities said in the previous 2016 case that Jalloh was involved in a plot to “murder US military personnel.”
He traveled to North Carolina in 2016 to attempt to buy an AK-47, but the gun owner refused to sell it, according to federal authorities. He then bought an AR-15 at a local gun store on July 2, 2016, and was arrested the next day.
Authorities said in the 2016 case that Jalloh attempted to provide funds to people hoping to join the Islamic State terrorist group, better known as ISIS. Jalloh ultimately pleaded guilty to attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization and was sentenced to 11 years in prison, as well as five years of supervised release.
Bureau of Prison records show that Jalloh was released in 2024; under federal law defendants must serve at least 85% of their sentence even when they receive credit for good behavior.
As part of his previous material-support-for-terrorism case, Jalloh sent gift card codes intended for ISIS to an undercover FBI employee who he believed was a member of ISIS, according to a 2017 government sentencing memo.
The government had argued for a sentence of 20 years in prison. His defense team said that he took responsibility for the crime and that his interactions with ISIS operatives and the FBI demonstrated his “gullibility, impressionability, lack of sophistication, and passivity.”
At his sentencing hearing in 2017, Jalloh told the judge that “this entire crime is not who I am, it’s not who I plan to be, and it’s not who I have been.”
The school had sent out an urgent alert at 10:48 a.m. about an active threat in the building. At 11:30 a.m., the school described the incident as an “active shooter situation” and said the shooter had been “neutralized.” It did not provide further details.
The school said there was no longer a threat on campus but asked people to avoid the area. Classes were canceled on the main campus for the rest of the day, and the university will be closed Friday.
Norfolk police and the Washington field division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives responded.
In a statement, Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger expressed her condolences and said she was praying “for the victims, their families, and every Virginian who has been touched by this terrifying shooting. I encourage community members to continue following guidance from the university and local emergency officials.”
Norfolk Public Schools said students from nearly all Norfolk high schools were on ODU’s campus for a tour at the time of the shooting. A spokesperson for the district told WAVY that all students and staff members are secure.
University President Brian O. Hemphill thanked law enforcement agencies for their quick response and said campus safety remains a top priority.
“We are deeply committed to safeguarding all Monarchs and ensuring a secure learning, living, and working environment at all times. We take this responsibility very seriously and remain vigilant in our efforts to maintain a safe campus,” he said in a statement. “I extend my thoughts and prayers to those impacted by the incident, as well as the entire campus and the broader community.”
@ NBC News
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