A deadly shooting at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia has left one person dead and two others injured, triggering a large emergency response and a federal investigation into what authorities believe may be a terrorism-related attack.

The incident occurred on the morning of March 12, 2026, inside Constant Hall, a building that houses the university’s business school and classrooms used by the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC). Police received reports of gunfire around 10:49 a.m., prompting an immediate campus-wide emergency alert instructing students and staff to follow “run, hide, fight” safety protocols.

According to officials, the attacker opened fire inside a classroom associated with the ROTC program. One instructor, described as a retired military officer, was fatally shot during the attack. Two other victims, both connected to the university’s ROTC program, were wounded and transported to nearby hospitals for treatment. One was reported to be in critical condition while the other sustained less severe injuries.

Authorities later identified the suspected shooter as 36-year-old Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, a former member of the U.S. Army National Guard. Federal officials confirmed that Jalloh had previously been convicted in 2016 for attempting to provide material support to the extremist group ISIS and served nearly seven years in federal prison before being released in December 2024.

During the chaotic moments of the attack, several students reportedly confronted and subdued the gunman before police arrived. Officials said the suspect died at the scene, though the exact circumstances of his death remain under investigation. Federal authorities praised the students’ actions, saying their intervention likely prevented further casualties.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation confirmed that its Joint Terrorism Task Force is working alongside local police to determine the motive behind the attack and whether the suspect specifically targeted ROTC personnel. FBI Director Kash Patel stated that the shooting is being investigated as a possible act of terrorism.

Old Dominion University quickly canceled classes and suspended campus operations for the remainder of the day following the incident. Counseling services were made available to students, faculty, and staff as the university community grappled with the tragedy.

Witnesses described scenes of panic as students fled the building after hearing gunshots. Police secured the area within minutes, eventually confirming that the threat had been neutralized and lifting the shelter-in-place alert later in the morning.

Virginia state officials expressed condolences to the victims and their families while promising support for the university community during the investigation and recovery period.

Old Dominion University, which enrolls more than 20,000 students and maintains strong ties with the U.S. military through its ROTC programs, now faces renewed concerns about campus safety following the attack. Investigators continue to examine the suspect’s background, travel history, and communications to determine whether the shooting was planned or connected to extremist ideology.