A group of courageous ROTC students at Old Dominion University are being hailed as lifesavers after they confronted, subdued, and killed an armed terrorist who opened fire in a Virginia classroom.
The attack, which unfolded just after 11am on Thursday, 12 March 2026, saw an ISIS-linked gunman enter Constant Hall and target a Reserve Officers' Training Corps session.
While one instructor was tragically killed and two students were injured, law enforcement officials confirmed that the death toll would have been significantly higher if the cadets had not taken immediate, lethal action to terminate the threat before police arrived.
Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, the shooter, entered the room and inquired whether it was an ROTC class. He opened fire when one of them verified that it was. According to witnesses, he also shouted 'Allahu Akbar' in advance. Jalloh, 36, ex-Virginia National Guardsman with a troubled background.
In a display of extraordinary bravery, several pupils tackled the gunman. Reports indicate that during the struggle, at least one student used a blade to stab and incapacitate Jalloh, preventing him from continuing his rampage through the crowded hall. FBI Special Agent Dominique Evans, in charge of the Norfolk field office, told a press conference that the students 'rendered him no longer alive', effectively ending the massacre within minutes.
Students Fight It Out Alone
The shooting killed one of the instructors and injured two students. The room was thrown into a frenzy as pupils fell to the floor and screamed in the hall. However, during the panic, a group of ROTC students acted swiftly.
Jalloh was subdued by other students, and it is reported by CNN that one of them stabbed him to prevent the attack. Police came within a few minutes and encircled the area. By 11:43 a.m., the threat was over. The gunman was dead.
'There were students in that room who subdued him and rendered him no longer alive. I don't know how else to say it, they basically were able to terminate the threat,' FBI Special Agent Dominique Evans in Norfolk, told CBS News in a press conference. The case has been handled as a terrorism-related incident. The FBI director, Kash Patel, confirmed that the agency is focusing on terrorism and that the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force is at full throttle.
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
'Earlier today, an armed individual opened fire at Old Dominion University, leaving one person dead and two others wounded,' Patel posted on X. '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.'
'The FBI is 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.'
Law enforcers stated that Jalloh acted in line with extremist activities and had been under FBI investigation for aiding terrorist acts. The shooter had previously worked in prison because he had tried to support the Islamic State, which casts serious doubts on how he could have performed such an attack.
The University In Shock
Old Dominion University is now struggling with shock and grief. The incident has left an imprint on students, staff, and families. Most of them are wringing in fear, but they are also telling about hope. The swift, prompt actions of the students are a reminder to remain calm and take steps during the crisis. The university has also heightened security, and it is providing counselling to the affected.
The Norfolk Police Department is continuing to assist the @FBINorfolk with their investigation following a shooting on the campus of Old Dominion University Thursday, March 12.
— Norfolk Police Dept (@NorfolkPD) March 13, 2026
Anyone with information is asked to submit tips to https://t.co/l9FoCKGmxb pic.twitter.com/XXVzRvgP3S
As the authorities keep on the investigation, the question still lingers on how Jalloh could manage to perpetrate the attack and why he chose to attack the ROTC class.
A Legacy Of Heroism
As Old Dominion University suspends counselling services, the narrative of the 'ODU heroes' has dominated the national conversation. The university is currently working with investigators to understand how Jalloh, an ex-prisoner who served seven years for ISIS support, was able to target the campus. However, the immediate focus remains on the cadets who stood their ground.
University President Brian Hemphill described the intervention as a testament to the students' character. The quick-thinking actions of the ROTC members served as a reminder that even in a 'soft target' environment, the presence of trained, disciplined individuals can alter the course of a tragedy. For now, the ODU community continues to support the injured while honouring the students who rose to an extraordinary challenge to save their peers.
