On Friday, federal investigators reported the arrest of a suspect involved in the Islamist terrorist attack at Old Dominion University. This assault tragically resulted in the death of Lieutenant Colonel Brandon Shah, a respected professor and ROTC leader, along with injuries to two others.
The U.S. Department of Justice revealed that Kenya Chapman has been charged with unlawfully selling a firearm to the deceased assailant, Mohamed Jollah. Limited details about Chapman’s background have surfaced, but he faces serious federal charges related to the illegal transfer of a firearm.
Documents indicate that Chapman confessed to federal agents he stole the gun from a car in Newport News, Virginia, about a year prior to the attack. He subsequently sold it to Jollah in the weeks leading up to the shooting.
Chapman reportedly was aware of Jollah’s past incarceration but claimed ignorance of the felony conviction that prohibited him from owning a gun. Prosecutors are considering additional charges, as it appears Chapman may have tampered with the firearm’s serial number.
The shooting incident occurred around 11:30 a.m. Thursday, as Jollah entered a classroom seeking the ROTC instructor. Witnesses report he shouted “Allahu akbar” before opening fire. Lieutenant Colonel Shah, a veteran of Iraq and Afghanistan, was fatally shot, and two others sustained critical injuries.
Jollah was ultimately subdued and killed by ROTC cadets during the chaos. FBI officials lauded the students for their swift actions that likely prevented further harm.
Originally from Sierra Leone, Jollah became a naturalized U.S. citizen. In 2016, he was convicted of attempting to provide material support to ISIS. He had previously left the Virginia Army National Guard after being influenced by extremist ideologies.
After attempting to join ISIS in Africa, Jollah had communicated plans for a similar attack to the notorious Fort Hood shooting with an undercover FBI agent. After multiple failed attempts to acquire firearms, he was eventually arrested and received a reduced sentence of 11 years, being released in December 2024 while under supervision at the time of the recent shooting.
