The suspected gunman who killed one person and injured two others at Old Dominion University in Virginia on Thursday has been identified by authorities as Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, who pleaded guilty in 2016 to attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Jalloh, a former member of the Army National Guard, was sentenced to 11 years in prison and was released from federal custody in December 2024. He also died in Thursday’s attack though his cause of death remains unclear.
Speaking during a press conference Thursday afternoon, university Police Chief Garrett Shelton said officers responded after receiving reports around 10:45 a.m. local time that people had been shot at Constant Hall, a classroom and academic facility on campus. He said university officials initially thought two people had been injured, but a third victim later brought themselves to a hospital.
All three victims are affiliated with the university. Officials have not yet shared the identities of the deceased.
Two victims transported to one local hospital are members of ODU’s Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program, Lt. Col. Jimmy Delongchamp, public information officer for the U.S. Army Cadet Command at Fort Knox, Kentucky, confirmed to The Associated Press.
“We will continue to coordinate with the university and law enforcement agencies as they investigate the incident,” Delongchamp said. “There’s still a lot more stuff we have to work out.”
Old Dominion University’s website says Constant Hall serves as the hub for the College of Business and has 19 classrooms, two full size lecture halls and the Greg Lumsden trading room. Classes at the university have been canceled for the rest of Thursday and students were asked to avoid Constant Hall as the investigation continues.
Chief Shelton said a tip line is being established in coordination with the FBI. In the meantime, anyone with information can submit tips at tips.fbi.gov.
In a post on social media, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said agents were also on the scene supporting the investigation. Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger thanked first responders and urged people in the community to follow guidance from local law enforcement.
“I have spoken with university leadership. My Administration remains in close contact with local emergency responders as state support is being mobilized to assist ODU and Norfolk,” Spanberger said in a statement.
Old Dominion University is a public research university in Norfolk, Virginia, with about 23,000 students. Founded in 1930 as an extension of the College of William & Mary, it offers more than 200 degree programs and is located near the Chesapeake Bay.