Federal authorities say a deadly shooting at Old Dominion University in Virginia on Thursday is being investigated as an act of terrorism after the suspected gunman was identified as a former Army National Guard soldier previously convicted of supporting ISIS.
The FBI confirmed that the attack left one person dead and two others wounded before the suspect was ultimately subdued. Officials say the alleged shooter, 36-year-old Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, shouted “Allahu Akbar” before opening fire on campus.
According to multiple federal sources, Jalloh was a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Sierra Leone who previously served six years in the Virginia National Guard. A spokesperson for the Virginia National Guard confirmed that he served from April 30, 2009, to April 29, 2015, and held the rank of specialist when he left the service with an honorable discharge.
During his time in uniform, Jalloh was assigned to the 276th Engineer Battalion, 91st Troop Command as a combat engineer.
His background had already drawn the attention of federal authorities years earlier. In 2017, Jalloh was sentenced to 11 years in prison followed by five years of supervised release after being convicted of attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State. According to the Department of Justice, investigators determined that he had attempted to assist what he believed would be an ISIS-inspired attack in the United States and had also tried to send money to support the terrorist organization.
Authorities initially arrested Jalloh on July 3, 2016, after uncovering evidence that he sought to help acquire weapons for a potential attack and attempted to funnel financial support to ISIS.
Federal prosecutors said his radicalization began while listening to online lectures by Anwar al-Aulaqi, the late Al-Qaeda cleric known for influencing numerous extremists. Investigators also found that Jalloh had praised the 2015 terrorist attack in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where a gunman killed four U.S. Marines and a Navy sailor.
Court records further indicated that Jalloh had discussed the possibility of carrying out an attack similar to the 2009 Fort Hood shooting, where 13 people were killed and 32 others wounded.
Despite those findings, Jalloh attempted to present himself differently during sentencing. In a letter to the court requesting leniency, he expressed regret for his involvement with extremist ideology and wrote that he had deep respect for the United States and its values.
“I reject and deplore terrorism and any groups associated with it, especially ISIL,” Jalloh wrote in the letter. He claimed he had been manipulated by propaganda and said he intended to spend his life warning others about the dangers of extremist recruitment.
He also described joining the National Guard as an effort to give back to the country that had provided opportunities for him and his family.
Nevertheless, federal prosecutors at the time argued for a significantly longer sentence. The Justice Department requested a 20-year prison term, stating that Jalloh had demonstrated clear commitment to ISIS ideology and had taken concrete steps toward facilitating violence in the United States.
“The defendant was fully aware of what he was doing and the consequences of those actions,” prosecutors wrote in their sentencing memorandum.
U.S. District Judge Liam O’Grady ultimately sentenced Jalloh to 11 years in prison. He was released from federal custody in December 2024, roughly 15 months before the shooting at Old Dominion University.
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed Thursday evening that the agency’s Joint Terrorism Task Force has launched a full investigation into the attack.
“Earlier today, an armed individual opened fire at Old Dominion University, leaving one person dead and two others wounded,” Patel said in a statement. “The shooter is now deceased thanks to a group of brave students who stepped in and subdued him — actions that undoubtedly saved lives along with the quick response of law enforcement.”
Patel added that federal agents are working closely with local authorities as the investigation continues.
