Old Dominion educator shot useless by terror suspect was a adorned army aviator who was near retirement, pals say

The man shot dead by gunman Mohamed Bailor Jalloh at Old Dominion University in Virginia on Thursday has been identified as Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, a retired Army officer who was teaching a Reserve Officers’ Training Corps class when the attack began.

Shah’s session with students in Constant Hall on the institution’s Norfolk campus was underway yesterday morning when Jalloh entered his classroom and asked whether it was an ROTC lesson, receiving a reply in the affirmative, at which point he opened fire, killing the instructor.

FBI Director Kash Patel subsequently explained that “a group of brave students… stepped in and subdued” Jalloh, adding that their actions “undoubtedly saved lives along with the quick response of law enforcement.”

Jalloh died in the aftermath and two other people were injured. ODU Police Chief Garrett Shelton said authorities are currently “very early” in their investigation and have not yet determined the shooter’s “full cause of death.”

Friends have since paid affectionate tribute to Shah, a native of Staunton, Virginia.

He enlisted in the Army in 2003 as an aviation operations specialist and later enrolled at ODU himself, where he earned his commission as an officer in 2007 with a degree in sociology and a minor in military science.

Shah also earned an MBA from the University of Georgia and a master’s degree in engineering management from the University of Kansas.

During his military career, Shah served in the Middle East, logging more than 1,200 flight hours in three different aircraft and completing more than 600 combat flight hours as an Army pilot, according to his faculty profile.

His many awards from the service included the Senior Army Aviator Badge, Combat Action Badge, Parachutist Badge and Air Assault Badge.

At the time of his death, Shah was a professor of military science at his alma mater and the lead instructor with its Army ROTC, having returned in 2022.

Speaking to WTKR via Zoom, three former cadets who trained with Shah said they were struggling to process his tragic passing.

“Life is so short… you need to tell your loved ones you love them while you still can,” said Aerock Parinas, who said he met Shah through the ROTC program nearly 20 years ago.

“He was so close to the finish line… about to retire… just start the next chapter,” said Carlos Ortiz. “You’re not supposed to go to war… come home where you’re safe… and die like that.”

Commenting on the authorities revealing that Shah’s students had intervened to stop the gunman, Jason Fedish said their bravery reflected well on the training his old friend had given them: “Even back in our day… any one of us would have done the exact same thing.”

Recalling Shah’s time in the service, Ortiz said: “All he wanted to do was come back and teach at ODU. That was his dream… and he got the job.”

Fedish also remembered the deceased’s natural leadership qualities: “He could take whatever feeling was in the room that wasn’t happy… and make it happy. He just exuded optimism and positivity.

“What can you say? It’s just Brandon. If he were here, I’d tell him I’m proud of you. One person can make a change. If we had more people like him… the world would be a much better place.”

Also paying tribute to Shah was Virginia’s Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger, who wrote on X (Twitter): “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.

“I am grateful for his example, deeply saddened by his death, and praying for his family. Amid this tragedy, I thank the brave students, first responders, and law enforcement officers who responded quickly to today’s horrific attack.”

Virginia Republican Rep. Jen Kiggans said on Facebook: “I am heartbroken by the loss of Lt. Col. Brandon Shah in today’s tragic shooting at Old Dominion University.

“As we continue to pray for his family and for the other victims, we should also recognize the extraordinary courage shown by the Army ROTC students who acted quickly to defend their classmates and subdue the attacker.“

Jalloh, for his part, was a former Army National Guard member who was jailed in 2017 after pleading guilty to attempting to provide material support to Isis, according to his Federal Bureau of Prisons record. He was released from federal custody in December 2024.

“I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life, but this mistake of giving any support to the violent and extreme organization Isis has been the most devastating one I have ever decided to make in my life,” he told U.S. District Judge Liam O’Grady at his sentencing.

“I’m very, very sorry for what I have done. I did not intend to cause any harm to anyone. And I want to say… Every time I see any atrocities that Isis commits, I am disgusted by it because I know this is not what I want to be a part of.”

Source: independent.co.uk