Crime
Justice Department charges Kenya Chapman accused of selling gun to Old Dominion University shooter Mohamed Bailor Jalloh
Norfolk, Virginia — Federal prosecutors have charged a Virginia man in connection with the firearm used in Thursday’s deadly shooting at Old Dominion University, according to an announcement from the United States Department of Justice.
Authorities say Kenya Chapman has been charged for allegedly selling a handgun to Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, the suspect in the campus shooting that left one person dead and two others injured.
Investigators state that Jalloh was legally prohibited from possessing a firearm due to a prior felony conviction related to attempting to assist the extremist group Islamic State.
According to federal court documents, Chapman told investigators he had stolen the firearm from a vehicle in Newport News approximately one year before the attack. Chapman later sold the weapon to Jalloh after meeting him at work.
In interviews with federal agents, Chapman said Jalloh claimed he needed the firearm for personal protection while working as a delivery driver. Chapman acknowledged that he was aware Jalloh had previously spent time in prison but said he did not know that Jalloh had a felony conviction that barred him from legally possessing a gun.
Chapman reportedly told investigators that he had no knowledge or expectation that Jalloh intended to carry out a violent attack.
Earlier Friday, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press that the handgun used in the shooting had an obliterated serial number, a factor that could complicate efforts to trace the weapon’s origin.
The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the ongoing investigation, said forensic specialists may attempt to restore or re-surface the serial number in order to determine the firearm’s history and chain of possession.
Jalloh, a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Sierra Leone, was previously convicted in 2016 for attempting to provide assistance to the Islamic State extremist group. He later served a prison sentence of 11 years in federal custody.
According to officials familiar with the case, Jalloh was released from federal prison in December 2024 and placed on supervised release, a form of post-incarceration monitoring comparable to probation.
Sources told The Associated Press that Jalloh was released approximately two and a half years earlier than his full sentence after completing a drug treatment program that can allow certain inmates to reduce their prison time. However, it remains unclear how he qualified for the program, as individuals convicted of terrorism-related offenses are typically ineligible for many sentence-reduction programs.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons has not yet provided additional details regarding Jalloh’s incarceration or eligibility for early release.
The shooting occurred Thursday morning inside Constant Hall, where an Army ROTC class was being held.
Authorities say Jalloh entered the classroom and began firing after shouting a phrase in Arabic commonly translated as “God is greatest.” During the attack, one person was killed and two others were wounded.
According to officials with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, ROTC students present in the classroom confronted and subdued the attacker, ultimately preventing further casualties.
The FBI noted that the students’ actions were instrumental in stopping the violence. Authorities have not publicly detailed exactly how the students subdued the suspect, but officials confirmed he was not shot.
Sentara Health later reported that one of the injured victims, who had initially been hospitalized in critical condition, has since been upgraded to fair condition, while another victim was treated and released.
Garrett Shelton said during a briefing that fewer than 10 minutes elapsed between the first emergency calls reporting gunfire and the moment responding officers determined the shooter was dead.
Authorities continue to investigate the incident and are reviewing evidence related to Jalloh’s activities prior to the attack.
Dominique Evans stated that investigators are asking members of the public to come forward with any information that could assist the investigation, emphasizing that even small details could be important.
The victim killed in the shooting was identified as Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, a 42-year-old Army ROTC instructor from Chesapeake.
Shah, a retired U.S. Army officer and helicopter pilot who served in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Eastern Europe, had returned to his alma mater in 2022 to help lead the Army ROTC program.
In a message to the university community, Brian Hemphill described Shah as a dedicated leader and mentor.
“Above all else, Lt. Col. Shah embodied what it means to be a devoted family man, a revered leader, and a heroic protector even in his final moments,” Hemphill said.
Shah is survived by his spouse and a child.
Friends and former classmates gathered on campus Friday to honor Shah’s memory. One of his close friends, Eddie Flack, visited the lawn near the flagpoles across from Constant Hall, where he poured out a bottle of whiskey in tribute.
Flack said the two had developed a close friendship while attending Old Dominion University together.
Through tears, he expressed his grief and called for greater compassion in society, saying the world needs more understanding and less hatred.
The investigation remains active as federal, state, and local authorities continue to review evidence, interview witnesses, and examine how Jalloh obtained the firearm despite his status as a convicted felon barred from possessing weapons.
Officials say additional charges could be possible as investigators work to establish the full sequence of events leading up to the shooting.
Norfolk, Virginia — Authorities have identified the instructor killed during Thursday’s shooting at Old Dominion University as Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, a retired U.S. Army officer who had returned to the university to serve as an instructor with its Army ROTC program.
The shooting occurred at approximately 10:43 a.m. on the university’s campus in Norfolk. Police responded after receiving multiple emergency calls reporting an active shooter inside Constant Hall.
According to law enforcement sources, the suspect—identified by authorities as Mohammed Jalloh—entered the building and walked through the hallway before approaching a classroom where an Army ROTC session was underway.
The suspect reportedly asked individuals inside whether he had arrived at an ROTC class. When someone confirmed that it was, the suspect allegedly opened fire, fatally shooting the class instructor.
Voorhees University confirmed in a public Facebook statement that the victim was Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, noting the tragedy has personal ties to the institution.
“This tragedy is felt especially close to home for us, as the victim, Lieutenant Colonel Brandon Shah, was the son-in-law of Voorhees University Trustee and alumnus Dr. Dan Martin,” the university wrote in its statement. “We lift Dr. Martin and his family in our thoughts and prayers during this time of unimaginable loss.”
Shah was a native of Staunton and began his military career by enlisting in the United States Army in 2003 as an aviation operations specialist.
In 2005, he enrolled at Old Dominion University, where he later received his Army commission in 2007. Shah graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sociology and a minor in military science.
Following his commissioning, Shah served extensively in Army aviation. According to his alumni profile at ODU, he earned the Army Aviation Senior Aviator wings, logging more than 1,200 flight hours across three different aircraft and accumulating over 600 combat flight hours during his service.
In addition to his undergraduate degree, Shah pursued advanced education, earning an MBA from University of Georgia and a Master of Science in Engineering Management from University of Kansas.
Throughout his military career, Shah received numerous awards and distinctions. Among them were the Senior Army Aviator Badge, Combat Action Badge, Parachutist Badge, and Air Assault Badge.
His alumni biography also described him as a strong advocate for minority and veteran business education, highlighting his involvement in initiatives that support diversity, inclusion, and entrepreneurship. In addition to his professional work, Shah volunteered his time to assist underserved communities.
Shah returned to his alma mater in summer 2022 to serve as an instructor and help lead the Army ROTC Monarch Battalion at Old Dominion University. In that role, he mentored and trained students pursuing military leadership careers.
University officials and members of the campus community have expressed deep sorrow over his death, remembering Shah as a dedicated officer, educator, and mentor whose service and leadership had a lasting impact on students and colleagues alike.
Law enforcement agencies continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
Authorities have not yet released additional details about the suspect’s motive, and the investigation remains active.