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.
Crime
40-Year-Old Shane Seiber, Philadelphia Police Officer and Combat Veteran, Dies After West Philly Ambush
PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania — Philadelphia Police Officer Shane Seiber, 40, has died after being shot during an early morning shooting in West Philadelphia, leaving behind his wife and two young children. Seiber was a 10-year veteran of the police department and a combat veteran who was remembered as a dedicated officer with a heart of gold.
Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel said Seiber’s wife and other family members were able to be with him at the hospital before he died. The department is mourning the loss as fellow officers gather to honor his service.
A second Philadelphia police officer who was wounded in the same incident is reportedly in stable condition, according to the latest information provided.
The shooting happened at approximately 1 a.m. Saturday, October 10, along the 100 block of North 52nd Street in West Philadelphia.
Both officers were assigned to the Philadelphia Police Department’s 19th District and were responding to reports of an armed man on a residential porch when they came under heavy gunfire, according to Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel.
Seiber suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was rushed to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center for emergency treatment. He later died at the hospital.
The 40-year-old officer had spent a decade serving the Philadelphia Police Department. He was also a combat veteran and a member of Philadelphia Police Academy Class 380.
Those remembering Seiber have described him as a man with a heart of gold who loved his job. His death has left his family and fellow officers grieving the loss of a husband, father and public servant.
Beyond his career in law enforcement, Seiber was a husband and father of two young children.
Commissioner Bethel confirmed that Seiber’s wife and other relatives were able to be at his side before he died. His family is now facing the painful reality of losing a loved one who devoted his life to serving others.
The loss has also deeply affected the Philadelphia Police Department, where colleagues are mourning an officer who served for 10 years.
As the department prepares to honor Seiber, thoughts and condolences are being shared for his wife, children, extended family and fellow officers.
A second officer was wounded during the same shooting and was also transported to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center.
Earlier reports described the surviving officer as being in critical condition. The latest information provided, however, says the officer is now in stable condition.
The officer’s identity has not been included in the information available for this report. Further updates may clarify the extent of the injuries and the officer’s recovery.
According to reports previously attributed to The Philadelphia Inquirer, the suspect allegedly ambushed the officers with a shotgun and later fired at additional officers responding to the scene.
The suspect reportedly fled before a SWAT team located the individual hiding in a tree and took the person into custody.
Investigators reportedly recovered three firearms, including a shotgun and a handgun believed to have been taken from one of the wounded officers.
An anonymous law enforcement source cited by The Philadelphia Inquirer named the alleged shooter as Eric Lewis, who was reportedly employed by the Philadelphia Water Department. Police had not officially confirmed that identity or announced charges in the information provided.
The investigation remains focused on the events leading up to the shooting and the circumstances surrounding the officers’ injuries.
Officer Shane Seiber’s death represents a profound loss for his family and the Philadelphia Police Department. A combat veteran and 10-year police veteran, he leaves behind a wife, two young children and colleagues who are mourning his death.
As fellow officers gather to honor his service, the department is also supporting the surviving officer and family members affected by the incident.
Our hearts are with Seiber’s family, especially his wife and children, as they navigate this unimaginable grief. We also hope the surviving officer continues to recover and receives the support needed in the days ahead.
Rest in peace, Officer Shane Seiber. Your service and sacrifice will not be forgotten.
The investigation into the West Philadelphia shooting is ongoing. Additional information may be released as authorities confirm further details.