CHARLOTTE — The FBI is investigating a deadly shooting at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Va., as a possible act of terrorism. One person was killed, and two others were injured in the attack, which ended when ROTC students stopped and killed the gunman.
Authorities identified the suspect as Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, a former member of the Army National Guard who was released from prison in December 2024. Jalloh had a prior conviction for attempting to provide material support and information to the Islamic State group.
Jalloh served in the Virginia National Guard from 2009 to April 2015. The FBI reported that he left the military as a specialist and had no deployments during his service.
Following his departure from the National Guard, federal agents alleged that Jalloh joined the Islamic State group and began planning targeted attacks on military personnel throughout the United States.
In June 2016, Jalloh traveled to Charlotte as part of an effort to acquire weapons for his planned attacks. According to investigators, Jalloh was in the city for approximately 4 hours. During that time, he attempted to purchase an AK-47 rifle, but the individual he approached refused to sell the firearm.
Seamus Hughes is a terrorism expert and the co-author of “Homegrown: ISIS in America.” Hughes has studied Jalloh’s history and the broader patterns of domestic radicalization. “He made a number of attempts in order to buy guns, one here in Charlotte,” Hughes said.
Hughes noted the difficulty law enforcement faces when monitoring individuals who may be radicalizing. “I think it’s fair to say all the lights are blinking red right now at a time when it’s very difficult to figure out when someone is gonna cross that line,” Hughes said.
Following his 2016 efforts to purchase a weapon in Virginia, Jalloh was arrested and sentenced to 11 years in prison for providing material support to a terrorist organization.
He was released from federal custody in December 2024. Hughes said that individuals involved in terrorism often make tactical errors that allow for law enforcement intervention.
“For terrorism, you are not attracting the well-adjusted and folks who have thought through every life’s decision on this, so they’re gonna make mistakes,” Hughes said. “The hope is that when they make mistakes, the FBI and law enforcement are ready to swoop in.”
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