On Mar. 13, 2026, a gunman opened fire on a Reserve Officers’ Training Corps classroom at Virginia’s Old Dominion University. He chose the wrong classroom to start a murderous rampage. Within moments, the cadets turned on the shooter and killed him. The incident left one victim fatally shot by the gunman, with two more wounded.
The cadets rushed the gunman, piled on to him, and disarmed him before fatally stabbing the attacker to death. He was dead before the 911 call was placed. By the time police entered the room, only 10 minutes had elapsed.
Also Read: Til Valhalla: Where the phrase came from and what it means to veterans
The shooter was identified as Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, a former Army National Guard member who spent eight years in prison for attempting to aid the Islamic State, according to PBS. The Virginia Army National Guard confirmed that Jalloh served from 2009 to 2015 before being honorably discharged.
“According to a 2016 FBI affidavit filed in his criminal case, Jalloh told a government informant he quit the National Guard after hearing lectures from radical cleric Anwar al-Awlaki,” reported PBS. FBI Special Agent in Charge Dominique Evans told reporters that Jalloh was later convicted of giving material support to ISIS and was allegedly trying to commit a terrorist attack when he walked into the classroom.
According to ABC News, Jalloh allegedly walked into the classroom, asked if it was an ROTC class, and when someone answered, “yes,” he shouted, “Allah Akbar” and shot the instructor several times. The cadets wasted no time responding—they turned on Jalloh, subduing and killing him. Law enforcement emphasized that Jalloh did not die of gunshot wounds.
The instructor was Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, a professor of military science and ROTC Instructor at Old Dominion University in Virginia. In a statement, Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger described the late Shah as “A devoted ROTC instructor [who] didn’t just lead a life of service to our country, he taught and led others to follow that path.”
ABC reported that when Jalloh was convicted in 2016, prosecutors recommended Jalloh serve 20 years in prison. He was given an 11-year sentence but was released early.
University police and the FBI continue to investigate the attack, which is being regarded as “an act of terrorism,” according to FBI Director Kash Patel.
The Reserve Officers’ Training Corps is a program for college- and university-based training for commissioned officers into the United States Armed Forces. While most cadet ribbons and medals are considered training decorations, certain badges can be earned during training and worn during active duty, such as a Marksmanship Badge or the Parachutist Badge.
I would argue that these cadets responded to a terrorist threat with the valor and courage required of combat, mitigating the attacker and preventing further casualties; in this sense, they should be considered for a valor decoration, such as the Silver Star, which recognizes “gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States.”
Don’t Miss the Best of We Are The Mighty
• VA rescinds decision that could have lowered veterans’ disability rating
• The complete guide to West Point
• What troops really think of the Army’s new XM7 rifle
