Authorities have identified the gunman who opened fire at Old Dominion University’s Constant Hall on Thursday morning as Mohamed Jalloh, a former U.S. Army National Guard soldier with a prior conviction for plotting to aid the Islamic State group during Obama’s tenure.
The attack left one person dead and two others injured, all members of the university community, before the shooter was fatally shot by law enforcement.
As reported by WAFF News on Thursday, March 12th, the incident occurred shortly before 11 a.m. local time at the public university in Norfolk, Virginia, which has approximately 24,000 students, nearly 30% of whom are affiliated with the military.
Classes and operations on the main campus were suspended through Friday, with students and staff urged to avoid the area around Constant Hall while emergency personnel conducted their investigation.
In a statement to the university community, ODU President Brian Hemphill described the events as a “tragedy” and expressed gratitude for the rapid response of emergency services. “The safety of our campus community is my top priority,” Hemphill wrote. “We are deeply committed to safeguarding all Monarchs and ensuring a secure learning, living, and working environment at all times.”
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The wounded victims, both members of ODU’s Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, were transported to nearby medical facilities. Lt. Col. Jimmy Delongchamp, a public information officer for the U.S. Army Cadet Command at Fort Knox, Kentucky, confirmed the victims’ military affiliation and said that officials were continuing to coordinate with local law enforcement.
Federal agencies, including the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, dispatched personnel to assist with the response. Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger also announced that state support was being mobilized to aid in the investigation.
Jalloh, 27, had a documented history of extremist activity. In 2016, he pleaded guilty to providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization, admitting he had attempted to travel to Libya and had considered carrying out attacks on U.S. military personnel.
He was sentenced to 11 years in prison for his role in an ISIS-related conspiracy and was one of more than 100 individuals charged with terror offenses linked to the group since 2014.
Court records indicate that Jalloh had served in the National Guard before leaving the service after being influenced by extremist rhetoric. During a six-month trip to Africa in 2015, he met with Islamic State members in Nigeria and engaged with contacts who he believed could assist in planning attacks in the United States. He also admitted to sending money to the terrorist group through an undercover informant.
Law enforcement officials described Jalloh’s prior experience with firearms and militant training as part of his profile, noting that he had expressed interest in attacks similar to the 2009 Fort Hood shooting in Texas.
Old Dominion University, a research-intensive institution with 240 degree programs, is located in Norfolk, near the world’s largest naval base, Naval Station Norfolk. The proximity to military facilities and the university’s high percentage of military-affiliated students has heightened concerns about the potential targeting of service members.
Authorities continue to investigate the motive and circumstances surrounding the shooting. Meanwhile, the university has made counseling services and other support resources available to students, faculty, and staff affected by the tragedy.
“This is a heartbreaking day for our community,” President Hemphill said. “We will work tirelessly to support those impacted and to ensure that such violence does not recur on our campus.”
