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The suspect authorities say killed an ROTC instructor at Old Dominion University was previously convicted of providing material aid to ISIS but received a shorter prison sentence than federal prosecutors wanted before his release in 2024, according to court records.
Mohamed Jalloh, an American citizen born from Sierra Leone, entered a classroom on Thursday in Norfolk school and opened fire after confirming that it was an ROTC class, killing Lieutenant Col. Brandon Shah, authorities said. The FBI’s Norfolk Field Office said ROTC cadets physically subdued Jalloh and stopped the attack, adding that their actions “give. [him] he is no longer alive.”
“The tragedy that happened today on the ODU campus should never have happened,” said Rep. Jennifer Kiggans, R-Va., following the attack.
Court records show that Jalloh was arrested in 2016 for providing material support to ISIS.
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Mohamed Bailor Jalloh has been identified by authorities as the shooter at Old Dominion University on Thursday, March 12, 2026. (AP Photo)
Federal prosecutors sought a 20-year prison sentence, but U.S. District Judge Liam O’Grady ultimately sentenced him to 132 months — almost 11 years.
According to prosecutors, a deceased ISIS member overseas arranged contact between Jalloh and a person he believed to be a supporter but who was a confidential FBI source. Investigators say Jalloh also traveled to Nigeria in connection with the plot.
An overseas terrorist wanted to be attacked, and Jalloh told an FBI source that he decided not to renew his enlistment with the Virginia Army National Guard after listening to the speeches of Al Qaeda terrorist Anwar al-Awlaki – a native of New Mexico – when President Barack Obama ordered the deadly strike in 2011.
“The defendant was fully aware of what he was doing, and the consequences of those actions. His only hesitation seemed to be the fear that he would falter at that critical moment,” prosecutors wrote in the sentencing letter obtained by The Associated Press.
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O’Grady later imposed an 11-year sentence that included psychiatric treatment and drug testing, according to the wire service, and Jalloh was eventually released in 2024.
Jalloh’s release also required no contact with any terrorist organizations and computer monitoring during probation.
“Jalloh was sentenced in 2017 to 132 months in prison for providing material support to ISIS. [government] had asked for a sentence of 240 months, the statutory maximum,” wrote former federal prosecutor William Shipley in X.
“The judge who handed down the reduced sentence was Chief Judge Liam O’Grady, Eastern District of Virginia, who was appointed to GWB. Judge O’Grady announced that he was taking the Supreme Court in June 2020 – right in the heart of the beginning of COVID, meaning there was no chance that the President[ident] Trump will know that his replacement has been confirmed. “
“Joe Biden has finally appointed his successor – Judge Patricia Giles.” Giles, he said, issued a dissenting ruling in 2024 that Virginia had illegally purged non-voters from the voter rolls too close to that year’s election and ordered their reinstatement.
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Asked if the latest attacks reflect a resurgence of ISIS threats at home or if lax immigration policies have played a role, a spokesman for National Counterterrorism Center Director Joe Kent cited recent comments he made after the Iran operation began:
“As the conflict in Iran continues, the National Counterterrorism Center of ODNI is involved and fully operational, 24/7. We track developments in real time, assess any potential threats to their country, identify emerging threats, and provide timely, actionable intelligence to the White House, law enforcement, and deterrence for the American people,” said American Kent.
Old Dominion University’s campus in Norfolk, Virginia, has academic buildings and beautiful facilities as a public research university serving southeastern Virginia and beyond. (John Greim/LightRocket)
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Kent said counterterrorism officials are “well aware” and focused on ending the “persistent” threats posed by thousands of people with terrifying connections who “flowed into our nation unchecked during four years of open borders under Biden.”
“Constant vigilance is necessary. Always be aware of your surroundings, and if you see anything suspicious, report it immediately to local law enforcement. Everyone has a role to play in keeping this nation safe,” said Kent.
A DOJ spokesperson told Fox News Digital that there are “no known or credible threats to the country” at this time and that federal agents are “remaining vigilant to keep the American people safe.”
Fox News Digital has reached out to ODNI, the FBI and O’Grady for comment.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
