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Authorities have identified the suspect in the Old Dominion University Shooting, a violent campus attack that left one person dead and two others injured, as a man previously convicted in a federal terrorism case.

The gunman, identified as Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, had pleaded guilty in 2016 to attempting to provide material support to the militant group Islamic State, according to a person familiar with the investigation who spoke to Associated Press.

FBI Launches Terrorism Investigation

The Old Dominion University Shooting is now being investigated as a possible act of terrorism, federal officials confirmed.

Kash Patel, director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, said an armed individual opened fire earlier in the day on the campus of Old Dominion University, leaving one victim dead and two others wounded.

“The shooter is now deceased thanks to a group of brave students who stepped in and subdued him,” Patel said in a social media statement, crediting their intervention with preventing further loss of life.

Patel added that the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force is fully engaged, working closely with local law enforcement as the investigation continues.

Attack Unfolded Inside Campus Business School

During a Thursday afternoon news conference, Garrett Shelton said campus police received urgent reports that people were being shot inside a classroom at Constant Hall.

Officers quickly responded to the scene, arriving within minutes.

Shelton said the first emergency call triggered a rapid police response, and within less than 10 minutes, officers confirmed the gunman was dead.

Initially, the university reported two victims. Investigators later learned of a third victim who transported themselves to a hospital, bringing the total number of people injured in the shooting to three.

Authorities have not yet determined exactly how the suspect died, and Shelton declined to confirm whether officers discharged their weapons during the incident.

He also noted that investigators are still in the early stages of the case and have not yet established the shooter’s precise cause of death.

Victims Linked to the University

All three victims were affiliated with the university, Shelton said.

According to Sentara Health, two of the injured victims were transported by ambulance to the Level I trauma center at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.

One of those victims later died from injuries, while the second remains in critical condition.

A third person was treated and released from the Sentara Independence Emergency Department after arriving in a private vehicle.

ROTC Members Among the Injured

Military officials confirmed that two of the wounded individuals are members of the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program at the university.

Jimmy Delongchamp, a public information officer with U.S. Army Cadet Command based at Fort Knox, said authorities are coordinating closely with university officials and law enforcement agencies.

“There’s still a lot more stuff we have to work out,” Delongchamp said in a brief interview.

Campus Locked Down, Classes Canceled

Within roughly an hour of the shooting, university officials announced that there was no longer an active threat on campus.

However, Old Dominion University—located in Norfolk—canceled classes and suspended operations across its main campus through Friday as investigators continued their work.

Authorities also urged the public to avoid the area surrounding Constant Hall, where emergency responders remained active.

Despite the shutdown, the university said counseling and food services would remain available for students and staff.

University President Calls Attack a Tragedy

In a message to the campus community, Brian Hemphill described the Old Dominion University Shooting as a tragedy that shook the entire institution.

“The safety of our campus community is my top priority,” Hemphill wrote, expressing gratitude for the rapid response by emergency personnel and offering prayers for those affected.

He emphasized the university’s commitment to ensuring a safe learning, living and working environment for all students and staff.

Federal and State Officials Respond

Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were also deployed to the scene to assist with the investigation.

Meanwhile, Abigail Spanberger said state authorities were closely monitoring the situation and mobilizing support for the university, though she did not provide details about specific resources.

A Major University Community Shaken

Located along Virginia’s coast, Old Dominion University enrolls roughly 24,000 students, including about 17,500 undergraduate students.

For many in the campus community, the Old Dominion University Shooting transformed an ordinary school day into a moment of fear and grief—an abrupt reminder of how quickly violence can intrude on places meant for learning.

Investigators continue working to determine the full sequence of events and the motivations behind the attack.