NORFOLK, Va. — Just before 11 on Thursday morning, a former Virginia National Guardsman walked into a classroom in Constant Hall on the eastern edge of Old Dominion University's campus and asked if those in the room were in the Army.
When affirmed, 36-year-old Mohamed Bailor Jalloh — who had gotten out of jail a little more than a year ago after pleading guilty to trying to help ISIS — pulled out a gun, yelled out the common Muslim phrase "Allahu Akbar," and opened fire on the class.
Jalloh shot the class instructor, ROTC Professor of Military Science Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, who later died at the hospital, and wounded two others in the class before the students subdued and ultimately killed him.
Another victim was taken to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital Thursday afternoon in critical condition, and another was released after a brief visit to Sentara Independence. The critical patient's condition was upgraded to fair on Friday morning, per a Sentara spokesperson.
While Jalloh is dead, many questions remain about his motives — though FBI Director Kash Patel said the bureau are investigating the shooting as an incidence of possible terrorism.
Watch related: What we know about ODU shooter Mohamed Bailor Jalloh
Shah was later identified as the instructor in a Facebook post made by Voorhees University. The South Carolina HBCU said Shah was the son-in-law of Voorhees University Trustee and alumnus Dr. Dan Martin.
"We lift Dr. Martin and his family in our thoughts and prayers during this time of unimaginable loss," the post said.
Watch: FBI gives evening update on ODU shooting that left one dead
The FBI described the incident in the classroom Thursday evening in a press conference, based on its initial investigation.
Special Agent in Charge Dominique Evans did not detail how Jalloh was killed, only to say that the students "subdued him and rendered him... no longer alive."
"I don't know how else to say it," she said frankly. "But they basically were able to terminate the threat."
When asked if Jalloh was shot, Evans said he was not.
Thoughts, prayers, and the gun debate reignited
While words of prayer and support poured in from politicians throughout the commonwealth and beyond — like Gov. Abigail Spanberger, Reps. Jen Kiggans and Bobby Scott, Sen. Mark Warner, and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll — Norfolk Commonwealth's Attorney Ramin Fatehi took the podium Thursday afternoon during a press conference with ODU and Norfolk police to convey a different message.
After commending ODU Police Chief Garrett Shelton and Norfolk Chief Mark Talbot for all they do to keep campus safe, Fatehi, whose wife teaches at ODU, was forceful in his message that the love of guns is a "national sickness."
"Until there is the political will to break the spell of the cult of gun absolutionism, you will see more incidents like his," Fatehi said. "So, if you are looking for somebody to blame, don't look at anybody up here. Look at our lawmakers, who don't have the courage to implement sensible gun control measures.
Kiggans, a Republican who represents the 2nd District, wrote on X in the evening that this horrific tragedy should never have happened.
"The fact that a terrorist with known ties to ISIS has been walking the streets of Hampton Roads makes me furious," Kiggans wrote. "My heart aches for Lt. Col. Brandon Shah who was killed by this terrorist monster and my prayers are with his family."
In a message sent to the campus community and media late Thursday night, ODU President Brian Hemphill said "there are no words for a moment like this."
'It was terrifying'
Many ODU students were already thinking about their plans for spring break, which starts for students this weekend.
But at 10:48 a.m. Thursday, two days before school let out, students, faculty and staff started receiving notifications about the active shooter in Constant Hall.
"Follow Run-Hide-Fight protocols," the message read. "Emergency personnel are responding."
Videos shared with News 3 showed a chaotic scene with students running away, sirens blaring from all directions, and countless police vehicles.
One particularly harrowing video shared with News 3 showed two bodies being carried out of the building — one person appeared to be alert and moving, the other was not. We have not confirmed the identities of the people in the video.
Another video that News 3 received but did not air or share showed a brief moment in the classroom where the shooting occurred: two people on the ground, alarms blaring, and blood everywhere.
The entrance to campus at Hampton Boulevard and West 49th Street was shut down for hours.
Anchor Anthony Sabella, and reporters Brendan Ponton and Erin Holly spoke to several students throughout the day about the panic that ensued after the alert.
"We heard screaming, like fake screaming, and we didn't know what it was, and we heard the screams getting louder," said one student. "And that's when the alarm went off and everyone just like ran out of the building."
"I tried to go back to my dorm, everything was shut off, so I just went to park in the parking garage. I was too scared," said another student. "I just didn't want no shooter coming up to my window trying to get into my car."
"It was definitely scary knowing that there were kids stuck inside a building still that couldn't leave," a third student said. "I wanted to help them, but at the same time, I had to protect myself."
Zachary Mulder said it was terrifying.
"I need to leave. My heart dropped. I didn't really know what was going on I just know I had to leave immediately and it was pretty scary at that point because I really didn't know what was going on or how close the threat was," Mulder recounted. "It was terrifying. I just knew I had to leave from the direction of where everybody was running from."
Another ODU student said to News 3 in a direct message on Instagram, "We deserve a campus where we can live without fear, going to school to learn how to heal people and then hearing gunshots all within the hour is beyond traumatizing and haunting for any student to have to endure."
Watch related: ODU students recount the terror of active shooter on campus
Virginia's history with college campus shootings
ODU students who were on campus last winter remember a shooting that took place outside a dining hall on the evening of Feb. 26, 2025.
In that incident, two young men who were not students aimed to settle a dispute with gunfire; both were killed, and another man was charged in connection to the incident.
In November 2022, three football players at the University of Virginia were shot and killed by another student.
The victims were Devin Chandler, a junior whose mother lives in Virginia Beach; Lavel Davis Jr., a junior from Dorchester, South Carolina; and D'Sean Perry, a 4th-year student from Miami, Florida.
Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., 25, pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree murder, two counts of aggravated malicious wounding and five counts of use of a firearm in the commission of a felony.
The deadliest college campus shooting in history happened nearly 20 years ago on the grounds at Virginia Tech, where Seung-Hui Cho, an undergrad student, massacred 32 people and wounded 17 others. Cho committed suicide after the attack.
Going forward
The FBI is now leading the terrorism-related investigation into Jalloh's shooting and what may have prompted him to target this group on this campus on this day.
As of 8 p.m. Friday, both ROTC cadets injured in the shooting are recovering, according to ODU President Brian Hemphill. Hemphill said he visited the victim in the hospital, previously in critical condition, and he is recovering from his wounds. The other cadet, who went to a Virginia Beach hospital via private vehicle and was treated and released that day, is recovering at home.
The ODU campus will be closed to classes, other activities and operations on Friday to allow for student support and counseling. The university will reopen for employees on Monday.
