The Muslim former National Guard member who opened fire inside an Old Dominion University classroom on Thursday shouted “Allahu Akbar” before the deadly act.
Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, a 36-year-old naturalized citizen born in Sierra Leone and a confirmed supporter of ISIS, burst into the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) classroom at the Norfolk, Virginia-based institute of higher learning and began shooting, but not before braying the chilling war cry, which translates into “God is Great” in English.
At a Thursday press conference, FBI Special Agent Dominique Evans revealed that Jalloh had screamed “Allahu Akbar” before the shooting, which claimed the life of a retired military officer and injured two others in the incident, which is being investigated as an “act of terrorism” by the feds.
(Video: YouTube/The National Desk)
“Lt. Col. Brandon Shah was killed today in his classroom at Old Dominion University,” Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger said in a post to X. “A devoted ROTC instructor, Lt. Col. Shah didn’t just lead a life of service to our country, he taught and led others to follow that path.”
Jalloh will now have a chance to personally find out about the alleged greatness of Allah. The Muslim fanatic was fatally stabbed after a group of heroic ROTC students intervened to prevent him from killing more innocent victims.
“I don’t know how else to say it, but they basically were able to terminate the threat,” Evans said.
“Earlier today, an armed individual opened fire at Old Dominion University, leaving one person dead and two others wounded. The shooter is now deceased thanks to a group of brave students who stepped in and subdued him – actions that undoubtedly saved lives along with the quick response of law enforcement,” FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement.
Earlier today, an armed individual opened fire at Old Dominion University, leaving one person dead and two others wounded. The shooter is now deceased thanks to a group of brave students who stepped in and subdued him – actions that undoubtedly saved lives along with the quick…
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) March 12, 2026
“The FBI is now investigating the shooting as an act of terrorism. Our Joint Terrorism Task Force is fully engaged, embedded with local authorities, and providing all resources necessary in the investigation,” he added. “In the meantime, please pray for the victims, their families, and the ODU community.”
“Jalloh was sentenced to 11 years in prison for offering material support to ISIS, then known as ISIL, in 2017,” according to the New York Post.
“The ISIS admirer met with members of the terrorist organization during a six-month trip to Africa in 2016. He alluded to executing his own terror attack inspired by the 2009 mass shooting in Ft. Hood, Texas, where a US Army major shouted ‘allahu akbar’ before he fatally shot 13 people and injured 32 others,” the paper reported.
The attack comes at a time of heightened danger as war rages in Iran, with the nation on high alert for a desperate activation of the Islamic Republic’s vast network of terrorist sleeper cells who could attack targets in the United States.
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