Lieutenant Colonel Brandon Shah tragically lost his life during a shooting incident by an ISIS-supporting attacker on the campus of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia.
Shah served as a professor of Military Science and led the university’s Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program. He was shot after the assailant, previously convicted for supporting ISIS, entered a classroom demanding to see the ROTC instructor.
A veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as Operation Atlantic Resolve, Shah’s commendations included multiple Bronze Stars and various prestigious military awards.
The victim of the terrorist attack at Old Dominion has been identified as Lt. Col. Brandon Shah– who was a Professor of Military Science and the leader of the university’s ROTC program.
He was a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Atlantic… pic.twitter.com/79pfI4UwLG
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) March 12, 2026
The gunman, identified as Mohamed Jollah, opened fire in the classroom while shouting “Allahu Akbar.” His actions were brave and quick. ROTC students in the classroom managed to subdue him, ultimately preventing further carnage.
FBI Special Agent Dominique Evans praised the students for their courage during a press briefing. He stated the students subdued the attacker without firearms, effectively saving lives.
Evans remarked, “The ROTC students subdued him and ‘rendered him no longer alive.’ I don’t know how else to say it.” ODU Police Chief Garrett Shelton confirmed that officers determined the shooter was dead less than 10 minutes after the emergency call came in.
Jollah, a naturalized citizen from Sierra Leone, had a troubling past as a former Virginia Army National Guard specialist. His criminal history dates back to 2016 when he pleaded guilty to trying to aid ISIS, influenced by extremist ideologies.
Prior to his arrest, Jallah engaged with ISIS affiliates and contemplated a large-scale attack similar to the tragic 2009 Fort Hood shooting. He was caught in an FBI sting operation while attempting to provide funds to an undercover agent posing as an ISIS contact.
Despite the Justice Department seeking a 20-year sentence, a judge sentenced Jollah to only 11 years. Released in December 2024, he was under supervision at the time of the tragic shooting.
