Former National Guard Member and ISIS Supporter Mohamed Jalloh Identified in Old Dominion University Shooting Incident

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is treating the recent shooting at Old Dominion University in Virginia as a terrorist act, following revelations that the suspected attacker was previously convicted for aiding ISIS. The incident unfolded on Thursday, casting a shadow over the college campus.

Authorities have identified the suspect as Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, a 36-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen from Sierra Leone, with ties to the Army National Guard. According to multiple federal sources speaking to Fox News, Jalloh’s involvement in the shooting has drawn significant national attention due to his past criminal record.

Jalloh’s history with law enforcement dates back to 2017, when he was sentenced to 11 years in prison, alongside an additional five years of supervised release, for attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State. This conviction stems from his time in the Virginia National Guard, where he reportedly became radicalized. He completed his prison sentence and was released in December 2024, just 15 months before the tragic events at Old Dominion University.

As the investigation continues, the campus at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, remains a scene of concern and reflection. The community grapples with the aftermath of this violent act, seeking answers and reassurance in the wake of such a serious breach of safety.

In 2017, Jalloh, a former member of the Virginia National Guard, was sentenced to 11 years in prison plus five years supervised release for attempting to provide material support to ISIS, according to the Department of Justice. He was released from jail in Dec. 2024.

He was originally arrested on July 3, 2016, after authorities said he tried to help procure weapons for what he believed would be an ISIS-inspired attack on U.S. soil and separately attempted to send money to support ISIS, according to the criminal complaint.

According to the Justice Department, Jalloh was compelled to leave the U.S. military after he began listening to the online lectures of Al-Qaeda cleric Anwar al-Aulaqi.

The department also said that Jalloh “praised” the July 2015 terrorist attack in Chattanooga, Tennessee, when a gunman opened fire and killed four U.S. Marines and a Navy sailor. 

Jalloh also shared that he had been thinking about conducting an attack similar to the attack at Ft. Hood, Texas, in November 2009, which killed 13 people and wounded 32 others.

Norfolk Police Department posted a photo of the response to a shooting at Old Dominion University in Virginia where two were injured. (Norfolk Police Department)

In a statement on social media, FBI Director Kash Patel said that the agency is “now investigating the shooting as an act of terrorism.”

“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,” Patel said.

“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. In the meantime, please pray for the victims, their families, and the ODU community.”

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