Emotional Tribute to Fallen ODU ROTC Instructor
A close friend of Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, the Old Dominion University ROTC instructor tragically gunned down by a former ISIS supporter, has shared a heartfelt tribute during a live interview.
“He had a beautiful soul,” Carlos Ortiz, 41, shared in an interview with CNN’s Victor Blackwell on Friday.
Ortiz remembered Shah fondly. “He always had a smile on his face… He dedicated himself fully to serving the United States Army. You couldn’t ask for a better Soldier than Brandon.”
Their friendship began during their junior year at ODU in Norfolk. “We trained together every day and ate together every day,” Ortiz recalled. “He loved the military. He really loved it.”
Though they were assigned to different paths after graduation, the two maintained their friendship. Shah, 42, achieved his dream of becoming an Army pilot and flew AH64 Apache helicopters in various regions, including Iraq and Afghanistan, throughout multiple operations.
He amassed over 1,200 flight hours, including around 600 in combat missions across three different aircraft. His military career was decorated with more than 17 awards, notably the Air Valor Medal and three Army Commendation Medals.
Four years prior to the incident, Shah returned to ODU as a military science professor, committed to mentoring future military members.
Shah, who leaves behind a wife and an elementary school-aged son, had hopes of building a lifelong home in Virginia to spend time with his family, Ortiz noted. “And now, that next chapter will never unfold,” he added sadly.
Shah was in class at ODU Thursday when 36-year-old Mohamed Bayler Jallow entered the room and opened fire, fatally wounding Shah and injuring two students. The students managed to subdue Jallow and ended the threat, according to federal authorities.
Another friend, De Quincey Dixon, who served alongside Shah in Iraq, expressed that it wouldn’t be surprising if Shah perished while trying to protect his students. “That’s just the kind of guy he was,” he remarked.
Jallow, a former combat engineer in the Virginia National Guard, had previously been convicted for attempting to support ISIS. After serving 11 years in prison, he was granted early release in 2024 following completion of a drug treatment program.
FBI Director Kash Patel stated on social media that the shooting is being treated as an act of terrorism. “In the meantime, please pray for the victims, their families, and the ODU community,” he urged.
