eFinder

eFinder

Home › Terrorism › Article

Old Dominion University shooter killed ROTC instructor in classroom

Nbcwashington · · 538 words · By Megan McGrath; Associated Press; NBC News
Terrorism Campus Violence Military Service
open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/old-dominion-university-shooter-killed-…

psychologyDetected Techniques

warning
Loaded Language 70% confidence
Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

fact_checkFact-Check Results

15 claims extracted and verified against multiple sources including cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia.

check_circle Corroborated 7
schedule Pending 5
help Insufficient Evidence 2
verified Verified By Reference 1
check_circle
“An Army lieutenant colonel and Reserve Officers’ Training Corps instructor was identified as the victim killed when a gunman with ties to the Islamic State opened fire Thursday at Virginia’s Old Dominion University.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple independent sources, including Wikipedia and various news reports, confirm that Army Lt. Col. Brandon A. Shah, an ROTC instructor, was killed by Mohamed Bailor Jalloh (who had Islamic State ties) at Old Dominion University on a Thursday (March 12, 2026).
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — On March 12, 2026, a shooting took place at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, United States. The assailant, 36-year-old Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, attacked a Reserve Officers' Training Corps (…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Old_Dominion_University_s…
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Kent State shootings (also known as the Kent State massacre) were the killing of four and wounding of nine unarmed college students by the Ohio National Guard on the Kent State University campus i…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kent_State_shootings
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — This is a timeline of Islamic State (IS)-related events that occurred in 2026.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_Islamic_State_…
+ 3 more evidence sources
check_circle
“Two others were also wounded before ROTC students subdued and killed the shooter.”
CORROBORATED
Wikipedia and web search results confirm that two ROTC cadets were injured and that the shooter, Jalloh, was fatally stabbed (subdued and killed) by the students.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — On March 12, 2026, a shooting took place at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, United States. The assailant, 36-year-old Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, attacked a Reserve Officers' Training Corps (…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Old_Dominion_University_s…
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — This article lists school shootings in the United States for which separate articles exist. The entries are organized first by the number of fatalities, and then by the number of injuries and date of …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_school_shootings_in_th…
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Old Dominion University (ODU) is a public research university in Norfolk, Virginia, United States. Established in 1930 as the two-year Norfolk Division of the College of William & Mary, the school bec…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Dominion_University
+ 3 more evidence sources
check_circle
“Lt. Col. Brandon A. Shah was a professor of military science and department chair with the university's ROTC program.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources explicitly identify Lt. Col. Brandon A. Shah as the Professor of Military Science and Department Chair for the ODU ROTC program.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 1919 Birthday Honours were appointments by King George V to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of the British Empire. The appointments were made to celebrate…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1919_Birthday_Honours
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — On March 12, 2026, a shooting took place at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, United States. The assailant, 36-year-old Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, attacked a Reserve Officers' Training Corps (…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Old_Dominion_University_s…
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Operation Anaconda or the Battle of Shah-i-Kot was a military operation that took place in early March 2002 as part of the war in Afghanistan. CIA paramilitary officers, working with their allies, att…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Anaconda
+ 3 more evidence sources
verified
“Investigators say the gunman specifically targeted a classroom full of ROTC students inside a business school building.”
VERIFIED BY REFERENCE
Wikipedia confirms the assailant attacked a Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) group. While the 'business school building' detail is not explicitly in the Wikipedia snippet, the targeting of the ROTC group is verified.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — On March 12, 2026, a shooting took place at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, United States. The assailant, 36-year-old Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, attacked a Reserve Officers' Training Corps (…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Old_Dominion_University_s…
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Coastal Carolina University (CCU or Coastal) is a public university in Conway, South Carolina, United States. Founded in 1954 as Coastal Carolina Junior College, and later joining the University of So…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coastal_Carolina_University
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — Old Dominion University (ODU) is a public research university in Norfolk, Virginia, United States. Established in 1930 as the two-year Norfolk Division of the College of William & Mary, the school bec…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Dominion_University
+ 3 more evidence sources
check_circle
“The suspect, Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, walked in and opened fire, killing Shah and wounding two others.”
CORROBORATED
Wikipedia and news sources identify the suspect as Mohamed Bailor Jalloh and confirm he killed Lt. Col. Brandon Shah and wounded two others.
menu_book
wikipedia NEUTRAL — On March 12, 2026, a shooting took place at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, United States. The assailant, 36-year-old Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, attacked a Reserve Officers' Training Corps (…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Old_Dominion_University_s…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Col. Brandon Shah, who was killed in the horrific attack at Old Dominion University.ODU shooter Mohamed Jalloh got a lighter sentence than prosecutors wanted.
https://news.google.com/stories/CAAqNggKIjBDQklTSGpvSmMzUnZj…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Learn about Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, the retired military instructor killed in a targeted attack at Old Dominion University.
https://pjmedia.com/tim-o-brien/2026/03/12/who-was-brandon-s…
+ 1 more evidence source
check_circle
“One of the injured victims is in critical condition, and the other was treated at a hospital and released.”
CORROBORATED
Newsmax reports that one victim was hospitalized in critical condition (later upgraded to fair) and the other was treated and released.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — On March 12, 2026, a shooting took place at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, United States. The assailant, 36-year-old Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, attacked a Reserve Officers' Training Corps g…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Old_Dominion_University_s…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The shooting killed an ROTC leader who was a professor of military science at ODU, and left two others hurt. One of them, who was hospitalized in critical condition, has been upgraded to fair conditio…
https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/old-dominion-university-gu…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — The victim who was killed by a terrorist in a shooting at Old Dominion University in Virginia has been identified as a decorated military officer. Army Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, a college instructor, was…
https://www.oann.com/newsroom/odu-shooting-victim-lt-col-bra…
check_circle
“The campus shooting is being investigated as an act of terrorism, FBI Director Kash Patel said on social media.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple web search results confirm that FBI Director Kash Patel stated the shooting is being investigated as an act of terrorism.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Kash Patel is an American lawyer serving since 2025 as the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Patel also served as acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosi…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kash_Patel
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — FBI Director Kash Patel said that the deadly shooting at Old Dominion University is being investigated as an act of terrorism.The FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force is working with local authorities in …
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2026/03/12/old-do…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — FBI Director Kash Patel said the shooting is being investigated as an act of terrorism. Be the first to comment. "Our Joint Terrorism Task Force is fully engaged, embedded with local authorities, and …
https://wjla.com/news/local/fbi-old-dominion-university-gunm…
check_circle
“Jalloh had pleaded guilty in 2016 to attempting to aid the Islamic State and was sentenced to 11 years in prison.”
CORROBORATED
Multiple sources, including The Independent and AP reports, confirm Jalloh pleaded guilty in 2016 to attempting to aid the Islamic State and was sentenced to 11 years.
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Court documents show less than two years after Mohamed Bailor Jalloh was released from prison for attempting to aid the Islamic State, he opened fire in a classroom at Virginia’s Old Dominion Universi…
https://www.abc4.com/news/national/ap-old-dominion-shooter-c…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Mohamed Bailor Jalloh was released in December 2024 with about 2 1/2 years left on his 11-year sentence for attempting to aid the Islamic State group. The person was not authorized to speak publicly a…
https://www.wtoc.com/2026/03/13/old-dominion-shooter-convict…
travel_explore
web search NEUTRAL — Jalloh, a former Army National Guard member, pleaded guilty in 2016 to attempting to aid the Islamic State extremist group. He was released from prison 2 1/2 years early after completing a drug treatm…
https://www.independent.co.uk/bulletin/news/old-dominion-sho…
help
“He was on supervised release, which is comparable to probation, when he carried out the attack on Thursday.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was provided in the search results specifically confirming the 'supervised release' status at the exact time of the attack, although his early release in December 2024 is mentioned.
help
“Classes at Old Dominion University are canceled Friday as faculty and students to give students and faculty time to process and grieve.”
INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE
No evidence was provided in the search results regarding the cancellation of classes on Friday.
schedule
“Shah enlisted in the Army in 2003, and he was deployed in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.”
PENDING
schedule
“Shah was awarded two bronze stars, according to his biography on ODU's website.”
PENDING
schedule
“The family came to the U.S. from Pakistan, Rizwan Shah said.”
PENDING
schedule
“Brandon Shah was born in the U.S. after his father immigrated to America, where he met Brandon's mother, he said.”
PENDING
schedule
“Shah was commended in 2023 for increasing enrollment in the ROTC program by nearly 50% — from 95 to nearly 140 students.”
PENDING
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.