Deadly Shooting at Old Dominion University Raises Questions About Terror Convict’s Release

A deadly shooting at Old Dominion University on March 12 has left a campus community grieving and raised serious questions about how a man previously convicted of supporting the Islamic State was free and able to carry out the attack, and not immediately deported upon release.

What Happened

The shooting occurred around 10:40 a.m. inside Constant Hall on the Old Dominion University campus. According to authorities, the attacker entered a classroom connected to the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program.

Witnesses reported that the gunman confirmed the class was an ROTC course before shouting “Allahu Akbar” and opening fire.

The attack killed Lt. Col. Brandon A. Shah, an ROTC instructor and Army veteran, and injured two others affiliated with the ROTC program.

Students in the classroom quickly confronted the shooter. Several ROTC cadets subdued him, and one reportedly stabbed him during the struggle. The attacker died at the scene, preventing further casualties.

Federal authorities are investigating the incident as a terrorist attack, with the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force assisting local law enforcement.

The Gunman

Authorities identified the attacker as 36-year-old Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, a former member of the Army National Guard, and in social media posts it appears that he intended to carry out an attack similar to the Fort Hood attack in 2009.

Jalloh was not an unknown figure to federal investigators. In 2016, he was arrested and later pleaded guilty to attempting to provide material support to ISIS, the Islamic State terrorist organization.

Court records show he had attempted to obtain weapons and had expressed support for jihadist attacks after consuming extremist propaganda, including sermons from radical cleric Anwar al-Awlaki.

In 2017 he was sentenced to 11 years in federal prison, but he was released from custody in December 2024, less than two years before the Old Dominion attack.

Questions About the System

The revelation that the gunman had previously been convicted of aiding ISIS has sparked intense debate about the justice and immigration systems.

Why was someone convicted of supporting a foreign terrorist organization back on the street?

Why was he released early from a federal sentence tied to ISIS activity?

And if authorities knew about his history of radicalization, what safeguards were in place after his release?

These questions have become central to the national discussion following the attack.

America is under attack by Islamic extremists:

– Temple Israel attack
– ODU shooting
– NYC attempted bombing
– Austin bar shooting pic.twitter.com/N9p9vWxfEC

— I Meme Therefore I Am 🇺🇸 (@ImMeme0) March 12, 2026

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Radicalization and Motive

Officials say Jalloh had been radicalized years earlier, reportedly after exposure to ISIS propaganda and contacts with extremists while abroad.

Investigators say the attack appears to have been targeted at military personnel, given the focus on the ROTC classroom.

The FBI is continuing to examine whether he acted alone or had any outside inspiration or assistance.

A Community in Mourning

The killing of Lt. Col. Shah has deeply affected the Old Dominion community and the military families connected to the ROTC program. University officials canceled classes and closed the campus as students and staff processed the tragedy.

Officials and community leaders have also praised the ROTC cadets who confronted the gunman. Authorities say their actions likely prevented the attack from claiming many more lives.

The Broader Debate

The Old Dominion attack is now fueling a wider national debate about terrorism, criminal justice, and public safety.

At the center of that debate is a difficult question: How did a man with a prior ISIS terrorism conviction end up free—and armed—on a college campus?

As investigators continue their work, the tragedy is likely to remain a flashpoint in discussions about radicalization, counterterrorism policy, and the consequences of releasing individuals previously convicted of supporting terrorist organizations.