Old Dominion Educator Shot Dead By Terror Suspect Was A Decorated Military Aviator Who Was Close To Retirement, Friends Say

The man shot dormant by gunman Mohamed Bailor Jalloh astatine Old Dominion University successful Virginia connected Thursday has been identified arsenic Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, a retired Army serviceman who was school a Reserve Officers’ Training Corps people erstwhile nan onslaught began.

Shah’s convention pinch students successful Constant Hall connected nan institution’s Norfolk field was underway yesterday greeting erstwhile Jalloh entered his schoolroom and asked whether it was an ROTC lesson, receiving a reply successful nan affirmative, astatine which constituent he opened fire, sidesplitting nan instructor.

FBI Director Kash Patel subsequently explained that “a group of brave students… stepped successful and subdued” Jalloh, adding that their actions “undoubtedly saved lives on pinch nan speedy consequence of rule enforcement.”

Jalloh died successful nan aftermath and 2 different group were injured. ODU Police Chief Garrett Shelton said authorities are presently “very early” successful their investigation and person not yet wished nan shooter’s “full origin of death.”

Friends person since paid affectionate tribute to Shah, a autochthonal of Staunton, Virginia.

He enlisted successful nan Army successful 2003 arsenic an aviation operations master and later enrolled astatine ODU himself, wherever he earned his committee arsenic an serviceman successful 2007 pinch a grade successful sociology and a insignificant successful subject science.

Shah besides earned an MBA from nan University of Georgia and a master’s grade successful engineering guidance from nan University of Kansas.

During his subject career, Shah served successful nan Middle East, logging much than 1,200 formation hours successful 3 different craft and completing much than 600 combat formation hours arsenic an Army pilot, according to his module profile.

His galore awards from nan work included nan Senior Army Aviator Badge, Combat Action Badge, Parachutist Badge and Air Assault Badge.

At nan clip of his death, Shah was a professor of subject discipline astatine his alma mater and nan lead coach pinch its Army ROTC, having returned successful 2022.

Speaking to WTKR via Zoom, 3 erstwhile cadets who trained pinch Shah said they were struggling to process his tragic passing.

“Life is truthful short… you request to show your loved ones you emotion them while you still can,” said Aerock Parinas, who said he met Shah done nan ROTC programme astir 20 years ago.

“He was truthful adjacent to nan decorativeness line… astir to retire… conscionable commencement nan adjacent chapter,” said Carlos Ortiz. “You’re not expected to spell to war… travel location wherever you’re safe… and dice for illustration that.”

Commenting connected nan authorities revealing that Shah’s students had intervened to extremity nan gunman, Jason Fedish said their bravery reflected good connected nan training his aged friend had fixed them: “Even backmost successful our day… immoderate 1 of america would person done nan nonstop aforesaid thing.”

Recalling Shah’s clip successful nan service, Ortiz said: “All he wanted to do was travel backmost and thatch astatine ODU. That was his dream… and he sewage nan job.”

Fedish besides remembered nan deceased’s earthy activity qualities: “He could return immoderate emotion was successful nan room that wasn’t happy… and make it happy. He conscionable exuded optimism and positivity.

“What tin you say? It’s conscionable Brandon. If he were here, I’d show him I’m proud of you. One personification tin make a change. If we had much group for illustration him… nan world would beryllium a overmuch amended place.”

Also paying tribute to Shah was Virginia’s Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger, who wrote connected X (Twitter): “A devoted ROTC instructor, Lt. Col. Shah didn’t conscionable lead a life of work to our country, he taught and led others to travel that path.

“I americium grateful for his example, profoundly saddened by his death, and praying for his family. Amid this tragedy, I convey nan brave students, first responders, and rule enforcement officers who responded quickly to today’s horrific attack.”

Virginia Republican Rep. Jen Kiggans said connected Facebook: “I americium heartbroken by nan nonaccomplishment of Lt. Col. Brandon Shah successful today’s tragic shooting astatine Old Dominion University.

“As we proceed to believe for his family and for nan different victims, we should besides admit nan bonzer courageousness shown by nan Army ROTC students who acted quickly to take sides their classmates and subdue nan attacker.“

Jalloh, for his part, was a erstwhile Army National Guard personnel who was jailed successful 2017 aft pleading blameworthy to attempting to supply worldly support to Isis, according to his Federal Bureau of Prisons record. He was released from national custody successful December 2024.

“I’ve made a batch of mistakes successful my life, but this correction of giving immoderate support to nan convulsive and utmost statement Isis has been nan astir devastating 1 I person ever decided to make successful my life,” he told U.S. District Judge Liam O’Grady astatine his sentencing.

“I'm very, very sorry for what I person done. I did not intend to origin immoderate harm to anyone. And I want to say... Every clip I spot immoderate atrocities that Isis commits, I americium disgusted by it because I cognize this is not what I want to beryllium a portion of.”