Old Dominion ROTC instructor killed by convicted ISIS terrorist ID’d as chair of military science department who served in the Middle East
Old Dominion ROTC instructor killed by convicted ISIS terrorist ID’d as chair of military science department who served in the Middle East
The instructor who was fatally shot by convicted ISIS supporter Mohamed Bailor Jalloh was a decorated chair of Old Dominion University’s military science department who served several tours in the Middle East.
Lt. Col. Brandon Shah was in the middle of teaching an ROTC course at ODU Thursday morning when Jalloh, 36, stormed into the classroom and opened fire.
Shah completed several tours with the Army since he enlisted in 2003, including deployment to support Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, and a rotation to Atlantic Resolve, according to his university biography.
The veteran also served with the Virginia National Guard — of which Jalloh was a member before he became an ISIS ideologue, according to the Department of Justice.
The Virginia National Guard did not have any information regarding Shah, but confirmed to The Post that Jalloh was honorably discharged in April 2015, just one day shy of completing six years of service.
Shah was a proud alumnus of ODU, the University of Georgia, and the University of Kansas, according to his bio.
He collected more than 17 awards linked to his storied military career, including the Air Medal of Valor and three Army Commendation Medals.
Shah additionally recorded more than 1,200 hours flying three different aircraft on top of 600 combat flight hours, according to his university profile.
Jason Fedish, one of Shah’s former ROTC colleagues, tearfully described the veteran as a “charmer” and “all-around stud” in a heartbreaking interview with WTKR News 3.
Fedish hoped that the ODU shooting was “just a tragic incident that I could mourn,” until he started receiving messages about Shah’s death.
“You build such a good brother- and sisterhood [in the military] and you can tell just by interacting with some individuals that they’re gonna be somebody, they’re gonna do some things that are great for our fellow man and the country and the world, and Brandon was exactly that,” Fedish managed to say as he choked up.
“When something tragic like this happens, to be able to hang your hat knowing that you died doing what you love and made a great impact is a fantastic thing,” he added.
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spangberger paid tribute to Shah in a statement posted to X.
“A devoted ROTC instructor, Lt. Col. Shah didn’t just lead a life of service to our country, he taught and led others to follow that path,” Spangberger wrote.
“I am grateful for his example, deeply saddened by his death, and praying for his family.”
Two other ROTC members were injured during the shooting, which the FBI is investigating as an act of terrorism.
Law enforcement sources told The Post that a group of the students, including one armed with a knife, killed Jalloh before he could harm anyone else.
FBI Special Agent Dominique Evans could not confirm if Jalloh targeted the ROTC class.
Sources, though, told The Post that he specifically asked if the students were in an ROTC class and only started shooting after they confirmed it was.
In 2017, Jalloh was sentenced to 11 years in prison for attempting to provide material support to ISIS, according to the DOJ.
Jalloh, a naturalized US citizen from Sierra Leone, became absorbed into the world of ISIS after leaving his post as a combat engineer with the Virginia National Guard.
He specifically admired Anwar al-Awlaki, the slain leader of al Qaeda’s branch in the Arabian Peninsula, and other known terrorists, the DOJ said.
He met up with members of ISIS sometime during a six-month stay in Africa in 2016.
During one meeting, Jalloh mentioned a desire to launch his own terror attack, taking inspiration from the 2009 mass shooting in Ft. Hood, Texas, where a US Army major shouted “Allahu Akbar” before he fatally shot 13 people and injured 32 others.
Unbeknownst to him, one person who had become something of a close confidant was secretly an FBI informant.
During their clandestine gatherings, Jalloh told the FBI source that he wanted to plan a terror attack during the holy month of Ramadan, the DOJ said.
This year, Ramadan runs from Feb. 18 to March 19.
Jalloh was arrested not long after returning to the US when he tried, and failed, to purchase high-power firearms, according to the DOJ.
