Former National Guard Member Kills 2 in ODU Shooting

Mohamed Jalloh had a history of radicalization and attempted ties to terrorist groups

Apr. 11, 2026 at 6:19am

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An extreme close-up photograph of a spent .22-caliber shell casing, conceptually representing the violence and investigation surrounding the Old Dominion University shooting.The aftermath of a deadly campus shooting exposes the harsh realities of homegrown extremism.Norfolk Today

Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, a 36-year-old former Virginia National Guard member, opened fire on an ROTC class at Old Dominion University, killing two students and wounding another before being fatally shot by other students. Jalloh had become radicalized after listening to speeches by the late al-Qaeda cleric Anwar al-Aulaqi and had attempted to join terrorist groups like ISIS during a 2015 trip to West Africa.

Why it matters

This tragic incident highlights the ongoing threat of homegrown terrorism and the challenges of deradicalization, as well as the need for improved mental health support and monitoring of individuals with extremist ties, especially those with military training.

The details

In 2015, Jalloh quit the National Guard and traveled to Sierra Leone, where he made contact with an ISIS facilitator. Though he initially backed out of joining the terrorist group, he later sent them money and purchased a rifle in 2016, leading to his arrest. After serving 8 years in prison, Jalloh re-enrolled at ODU, where he opened fire on an ROTC class, yelling 'Allahu akbar' before being killed by students.

  • Jalloh quit the National Guard in April 2015.
  • Jalloh traveled to Sierra Leone in June 2015.
  • Jalloh purchased a rifle in July 2016.
  • Jalloh was sentenced to 11 years in prison in February 2017.
  • Jalloh re-enrolled at ODU in the summer of 2025.

The players

Mohamed Bailor Jalloh

A 36-year-old former Virginia National Guard member who became radicalized and carried out a deadly shooting at Old Dominion University.

Anwar al-Aulaqi

A U.S.-born al-Qaeda cleric whose speeches inspired Jalloh's radicalization, though al-Aulaqi was killed in a drone strike in 2011.

Brandon Shah

An Army Lt. Col. and the head of ODU's ROTC program, who was wounded in the shooting.

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What they’re saying

“You have no criminal history, and you have been a law-abiding citizen and a member of the National Guard, so I think that the ultimate sentence that I hand down should reflect the good things you have done as well as the horrendous things.”

— Judge Liam O'Grady, U.S. District Judge

“The defendant's conduct is particularly reprehensible because he attempted to target people for their service to our country. As a National Guardsman, Jalloh knew better than most the sacrifices that our men and women in the military make.”

— John Gibbs, Assistant U.S. Attorney

What’s next

Authorities are investigating whether Jalloh had any accomplices or co-conspirators, and are reviewing his digital footprint and communications to determine the full extent of his radicalization and planning.

The takeaway

This tragic incident underscores the ongoing threat of homegrown terrorism and the need for improved mental health support, deradicalization programs, and monitoring of individuals with extremist ties, especially those with military training, to prevent future attacks.