A gunman opened fire inside a classroom at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia on March 12, killing one person and injuring two others before being subdued and killed by students, according to authorities. The shooting occurred in Constant Hall, a building that houses the university’s College of Business, prompting an active-shooter alert and a campus lockdown as police and emergency crews rushed to the scene. 

The victim who was killed was identified as Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, an ROTC instructor and decorated U.S. Army veteran. Two other members of the university’s Reserve Officers’ Training Corps were injured and taken to hospital for treatment, with one reported to be in critical condition. 

Authorities identified the suspect as Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, a 36-year-old former member of the Virginia Army National Guard who had previously been convicted of attempting to support the militant group ISIS. Investigators say Jalloh entered the classroom, confirmed it was an ROTC class and then opened fire before students intervened. 

Several ROTC cadets confronted and subdued the attacker, ending the threat within minutes. Federal investigators praised the students’ actions, saying their intervention likely prevented further casualties. 

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is now leading the investigation and treating the attack as a potential act of terrorism due to the suspect’s prior extremist ties. Jalloh had previously served time in federal prison after pleading guilty in 2016 to attempting to provide material support to ISIS before being released in 2024. 

University officials canceled classes and offered counseling services to students and staff in the aftermath of the shooting. Leaders at the university described the incident as a devastating tragedy for the campus community while praising the bravery of the students who helped stop the gunman. 

Sources: NBC News, AP News, CNN, CBS News, WTOP News