Old Dominion Shooting Suspect Identified as Ex-National Guard Member with Terror Conviction

The FBI says the suspect killed one person and injured two others in the Thursday attack.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 9:21pm

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The suspect in the shooting at Old Dominion University that left one person dead and two others injured has been identified as Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, a former Army National Guard member who pleaded guilty in 2016 to attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State. The FBI is investigating the incident as an act of terrorism.

Why it matters

The shooting at Old Dominion University raises concerns about the threat of domestic terrorism, particularly from individuals with prior extremist ties. It also highlights the challenges of preventing such attacks, even when a suspect has a known history of involvement with terrorist organizations.

The details

According to the FBI, Jalloh opened fire on the Old Dominion campus on Thursday, killing one person and injuring two others. The FBI Director stated that Jalloh was subdued and killed by a group of brave students. Jalloh had previously pleaded guilty in 2016 to attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State.

  • The shooting occurred on Thursday, March 12, 2026 at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia.

The players

Mohamed Bailor Jalloh

The suspect in the Old Dominion University shooting, who is a former Army National Guard member and pleaded guilty in 2016 to attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State.

Kash Patel

The FBI Director, who stated that the shooting is being investigated as an act of terrorism and that Jalloh was killed by a group of brave students.

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What they’re saying

“The shooting is being investigated as an act of terrorism.”

— Kash Patel, FBI Director (Social media post)

What’s next

The FBI and local authorities will continue to investigate the shooting and Jalloh's background and motivations.

The takeaway

This incident underscores the ongoing threat of domestic terrorism and the need for vigilance in identifying and addressing individuals with extremist ties before they can carry out attacks. It also highlights the bravery of the students who intervened to stop the shooter.