The FBI now classifies a deadly shooting at Old Dominion University in Virginia as a terror attack.
Mohamed Bailor Jalloh initiated the assault, resulting in one fatality and two injuries before students subdued him, ultimately leading to his death. He reportedly shouted “Allahu Akbar” prior to the shooting, as confirmed by Dominique Evans, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Norfolk field office.
FBI Director Kash Patel commended the students’ swift actions and law enforcement’s rapid response, stating they “undoubtedly saved lives.” The investigation is ongoing.
Police arrived within ten minutes of the first reports of gunfire in the university’s business school. The injured victims, both university affiliates, were hospitalized, with one in critical condition.
The cause of Jalloh’s death remains under investigation. A former Army National Guard member, he had previously been convicted of providing material support to ISIS in 2016 and sentenced to 11 years, with his release occurring in December 2024.
Court documents reveal a three-month sting operation in 2016, during which Jalloh expressed intentions to conduct an attack reminiscent of the 2009 Fort Hood shootings. He established contact with ISIS affiliates in Africa, including an FBI informant.
Although he initially attempted to purchase an AR-15 assault rifle but was denied due to paperwork issues, he returned the next day to buy a different assault weapon, which prosecutors noted was rendered inoperable before he left the store. He was arrested shortly thereafter.
Prosecutors sought a 20-year sentence, citing Jalloh’s repeated attempts to join the terrorist group and procure a weapon for a murder plot in the U.S. They emphasized his awareness of the implications of his actions and his commitment to a violent ideology. Ultimately, a district judge sentenced Jalloh to 11 years in prison.
