NORFOLK, Va. — Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, a U.S. Army officer and ROTC instructor at Old Dominion University, has been identified as the victim killed during Thursday’s terrorist attack inside a classroom on campus.
Authorities say the gunman, Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, opened fire during an Army ROTC class inside Constant Hall shortly before 11 a.m., killing Shah and wounding two ROTC cadets before being subdued by students inside the room. Law enforcement officials later confirmed Jalloh — a former Virginia National Guardsman previously convicted in a federal ISIS-related terrorism case — is also dead.
Old Dominion University Police said the first calls reporting an active shooter came in around 10:43 a.m. Officers arrived minutes later and found the gunman already subdued inside the classroom. An all-clear notification was issued around 12:15 p.m., and the university canceled classes and suspended campus operations for the remainder of the day.
According to law enforcement sources cited in national reporting, Jalloh entered the classroom and asked if the room was hosting an ROTC class. When someone confirmed that it was, he opened fire, fatally wounding Shah, who was leading the class.
The attack was ultimately stopped by ROTC students who confronted and subdued the gunman before officers arrived. FBI Director Kash Patel later said their actions likely prevented additional casualties.
“Thanks to a group of brave students who stepped in and subdued him — actions that undoubtedly saved lives,” Patel said.
Officials confirmed the gunman was not shot by police. FBI Norfolk Special Agent in Charge Dominique Evans said the suspect was restrained by the cadets and “rendered no longer able to conduct any further attack.”
Two additional ROTC members who were shot were transported to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital and are reported to be in stable condition.
Investigators have identified the shooter as Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, 36, a former member of the Virginia National Guard who previously pleaded guilty to attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State terrorist organization, also known as ISIS or ISIL.
Federal investigators said Jalloh met with an undercover FBI agent in 2016 and attempted to send money to the terrorist group while discussing plans to conduct a domestic attack in its name. He was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison followed by five years of supervised release. According to federal prison records, Jalloh was released early in December 2024.
During a press conference Thursday afternoon, Evans said investigators have confirmed Jalloh shouted “Allahu Akbar” before carrying out the attack, and the FBI is treating the incident as an act of terrorism. Officials say investigators have so far identified one firearm used in the shooting and have found no evidence of explosives connected to the suspect.
The victim, Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, had deep ties to Old Dominion University and a long career in the U.S. Army. A native of Staunton, Virginia, Shah enlisted in the Army in 2003 as an aviation operations specialist before enrolling at Old Dominion in 2005. He later earned his commission as an Army officer in 2007, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a minor in military science.
Over the course of his career, Shah earned the Senior Army Aviator Badge and logged more than 1,200 flight hours across multiple aircraft. He also accumulated more than 600 combat flight hours during deployments.
His military awards included the Combat Action Badge, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, and the Senior Army Aviator Badge.
Shah also earned an MBA from the University of Georgia and a Master of Science in Engineering Management from the University of Kansas. University records note he was an advocate for veteran and minority business education and regularly volunteered to support community and veteran outreach efforts.
In 2022, Shah returned to Old Dominion University to serve as an instructor for the Army ROTC Monarch Battalion, mentoring and training the next generation of Army officers.
Voorhees University confirmed Shah’s identity in a public statement, noting that he was the son-in-law of university trustee and alumnus Dr. Dan Martin.
“This tragedy is felt especially close to home for us,” the university wrote in a statement.
Students who were inside Constant Hall during the shooting described a chaotic scene as alarms sounded and people fled the building. Logan Hayes, an ODU sophomore who was taking a test in the building at the time, said he heard multiple gunshots and people screaming as he ran outside.
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger said state authorities are assisting in the investigation and praised the rapid response by local and federal agencies.
Federal investigators with the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force remain on scene processing evidence and continuing to investigate how Jalloh obtained the firearm used in the attack and what led him to target the ROTC classroom.
Lt. Col. Brandon Shah leaves behind a legacy as a combat aviator, mentor, and ROTC instructor dedicated to preparing the next generation of Army officers.
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