The gunman who opened fire Thursday morning at Old Dominion University, killing one person and wounding two others, was previously convicted of providing material support to ISIS, two senior law enforcement officials briefed on the matter told NBC News.
The shooter was identified as Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, 36, of Sterling, Virginia. The gunman is also dead.
The shooter opened fire at approximately 10:49 a.m. in Constant Hall, the Norfolk, Virginia, university said in an emergency alert.
Two victims were taken to the hospital and appear to be in stable condition, ODU Police Chief Garrett Shelton said. A third victim took themselves to the hospital, he said at a news conference.
“One of the victims is deceased. And we’re working on getting in touch with the family at this point,” he said.
The victims have not been identified. Two of them are members of the school’s ROTC program, NBC affiliate WAVY of Portsmouth, Virginia, reported.
“We can confirm that two members of the university ROTC program were shot and were taken to a local hospital to treat their injuries,” the U.S. Army Cadet Command told the station in a statement.
Officials said Jalloh allegedly targeted an ROTC class and was a former member of the Army National Guard.
A motive in the shooting is unclear. The investigation into whether the shooting has a nexus to terrorism remains ongoing, officials said.
In 2016, he was arrested for attempting to provide material support to ISIS, according to public court documents. He allegedly attempted to help procure weapons intended to be used in what he anticipated was going to be an attack in the U.S., the complaint said at the time. The complaint also alleged that he attempted to provide funds to individuals hoping to join ISIS.
He pleaded guilty to attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization and was sentenced to 11 years in prison. He was released in 2024, according to the Department of Justice.
The school sent out an urgent alert at 10:48 a.m. about an active threat in the building. At 11:30 a.m., the school described the incident as an “active shooter situation” and said the shooter had been “neutralized.” The university did not provide further details.
The school said there is no longer a threat on campus, but asked people to avoid the area. Classes were canceled on the main campus for the remainder of the day and the university will be closed on Friday.
Norfolk Police and the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives responded to the scene.
FBI Director Kash Patel said they are providing assistance and working with local authorities.
Gov. Abigail Spanberger said she was closely monitoring the situation.
“I have spoken with university leadership. My Administration remains in close contact with local emergency responders as state support is being mobilized to assist ODU and Norfolk,” she said in a post on X.
Norfolk Public Schools said students from nearly all Norfolk high schools were on ODU’s campus for a tour at the time of the shooting. A spokesperson for the district told WAVY that all students and staff are secure.
