Gunman Opens Fire at Old Dominion University, Two Injured

Violence erupted within the brick walls of Constant Hall, the facility housing the university's business school. Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, 36, breached a classroom and initiated a confrontation that shattered the academic morning.

Jalloh interrogated the targets inside the room, demanding to know if the session was a Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) class. Once a person in the room confirmed the ROTC affiliation, the gunman opened fire.

A professor sustained multiple gunshot wounds during the targeted assault. Emergency responders treated two victims for their injuries immediately following the cessation of the gunfire.

Old Dominion University Police Chief Garrett Shelton confirmed that a third individual transported themselves to a separate hospital for medical attention. The condition of the wounded persists as the primary focus for medical staff in Norfolk.

The gunman is dead following the encounter on the Norfolk campus. Authorities have not yet determined the shooter's full cause of death as the investigation remains in its preliminary stages.

The FBI assumed the lead in the case, officially investigating the shooting as an act of terrorism. This shift in jurisdiction follows the identification of Jalloh as a former National Guardsman.

Law enforcement officials have not yet publicly released the names of the individuals wounded in the attack. Constant Hall remains cordoned off as federal agents and local police process the crime scene inside the business school.

The university administration suspended all operations and cancelled classes for the remainder of the day. This total shutdown allowed Norfolk Police and federal investigators to secure the perimeter and conduct a sweep of the grounds.

Norfolk Public Schools placed three elementary schools under a secure hold as a precaution during the height of the police response. The measure restricted movement in the surrounding area while tactical units cleared the university buildings.

The targeting of an ROTC classroom marks a specific escalation in campus violence, echoing historical instances where military-affiliated programs on civilian grounds become flashpoints. This event forces a re-examination of security protocols for specialized training units within public universities.

Stakeholders including students, faculty, and military recruitment officers now face the immediate economic and psychological pressure of securing open-access campus buildings. The Old Dominion University community must navigate the disruption of the academic calendar and the physical damage to the business school infrastructure.

The FBI investigation into Jalloh’s background seeks to uncover the sequence of events leading to the classroom confrontation. Investigators are currently tracing his military record and recent activities to establish a timeline of radicalization or intent.

Future implications for the Norfolk region include heightened surveillance and potential permanent changes to how visitors access academic halls. The intersection of domestic terrorism and campus safety remains a critical concern for federal law enforcement agencies.

Chief Shelton stated that authorities are working to piece together the shooter's motivations and the exact mechanics of the breach. The presence of a former National Guardsman as the primary suspect adds a layer of complexity to the military-civilian investigation.

The physical landscape of the Norfolk campus changed instantly as tactical vehicles and federal agents replaced the usual flow of students. Forensic teams continue to collect evidence from the classroom where the professor was shot.

University officials have not provided a timeline for when Constant Hall will reopen to the public. For now, the building stands as a silent crime scene under the watch of armed guards and federal investigators.