ODU Army ROTC Professor Killed in Virginia Shooting

Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, a decorated war veteran, died from gunshot wounds during the incident.

Mar. 14, 2026 at 1:55am

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Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, a 42-year-old Army ROTC professor at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, was killed in a shooting on the university campus on Thursday. Shah had served the U.S. in wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and came from a family that immigrated from Pakistan. The FBI has opened a terrorism investigation into the shooting, which also injured two others.

Why it matters

The shooting at Old Dominion University, which has close ties to the military, has shocked the community and raised concerns about campus safety. As a decorated war veteran, Lt. Col. Shah's death is a tragic loss for the university and the armed forces.

The details

According to authorities, Lt. Col. Shah was the Army ROTC professor of military science at ODU and a native of Chesapeake, Virginia. He had enlisted in the Army in 2003 and served as an Army pilot, logging over 1,200 hours, 600 of them on combat missions, in three different aircraft. Shah received his Army commission and graduated from ODU in 2007 with a bachelor's degree in sociology.

  • The shooting occurred on Thursday at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia.
  • Lt. Col. Shah died from gunshot wounds sustained during the incident.

The players

Lt. Col. Brandon Shah

The 42-year-old Army ROTC professor of military science at Old Dominion University who was killed in the shooting. He had served the U.S. in wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and came from a family that immigrated from Pakistan.

Brian Hemphill

The president of Old Dominion University, who described Lt. Col. Shah as a "beloved and respected leader" who "embodied what it means to be a devoted family man, a revered leader, and heroic protector even in his final moments."

Abigail Spanberger

The governor of Virginia, who ordered that the flags of the U.S. and Virginia be flown at half-staff on all state and local buildings and grounds in Lt. Col. Shah's memory.

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What they’re saying

“Lt. Col. Shah was a beloved and respected leader at Old Dominion University. He personally guided students in the Army ROTC Monarch Battalion through his caring spirit and combat experience.”

— Brian Hemphill, President, Old Dominion University (ksgf.com)

“Lt. Col. Shah embodied what it means to be a devoted family man, a revered leader, and heroic protector even in his final moments.”

— Brian Hemphill, President, Old Dominion University (ksgf.com)

What’s next

The FBI has opened a terrorism investigation into the shooting, and authorities are working to determine the motive and identify the shooter, who was also killed.

The takeaway

The tragic death of Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, a decorated war veteran and respected ROTC leader, has shaken the Old Dominion University community and raised concerns about campus safety. His service and sacrifice will be remembered, and the investigation into the shooting is ongoing.