Federal investigators say a former National Guard member with past ties to ISIS carried out a deadly shooting inside a Virginia college classroom, shouting a religious phrase moments before opening fire.
According to the New York Post, authorities identified the suspect as 36-year-old Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, who stormed into a Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) classroom at Old Dominion University on Thursday.
According to the FBI, Jalloh yelled “Allahu Akbar” — Arabic for “God is Great” — before beginning the attack.
The gunfire left a retired military officer dead and two other people wounded, officials said.
FBI Special Agent Dominique Evans confirmed during a press conference that the bureau is investigating the shooting as an act of terrorism.
Evans said Jalloh entered the classroom and shouted the phrase before opening fire on those inside. Authorities have not yet publicly identified the retired officer who was killed in the attack.
Investigators also credited students at the university with helping stop the violence before it spread further. Evans said several students stepped in during the chaos and helped contain the shooter.
She praised their actions, saying they showed “extreme bravery and courage in containing the shooter and stopping further loss of life.”
The FBI is now working to reconstruct Jalloh’s movements in the days leading up to the attack.
Officials said a public tipline will be opened to gather additional information from anyone who may have encountered him or noticed suspicious behavior.
Agents are also investigating whether anyone may have assisted or supported the suspect before the shooting.
Jalloh previously served time in federal prison for terrorism-related charges.
Authorities said he was sentenced to 11 years after being convicted of providing material support to ISIS, also known at the time as ISIL.
He was released from prison in December 2024.
Federal investigators are now examining what Jalloh did after his release and whether any warning signs were missed before the deadly attack at the university.
