ROTC Students Disarm Armed Attacker at Old Dominion University

Virginia State Representative Garrett McGuire (D) asserted that ROTC students who neutralized an attacker at Old Dominion University (ODU) without firearms demonstrated that possessing a gun isn’t essential for self-protection.

On March 12, 2026, a man named Mohamed Baylor Jallow, 36, allegedly entered a classroom at ODU’s Constant Hall and asked if he was in the ROTC class. That’s when the situation escalated.

Reports from Breitbart indicated that the FBI mentioned Jallow shouted “Allah Akbar” during the assault. He fired on an instructor before being subdued by the ROTC students.

While discussing gun control measures, specifically bill HB1525, which seeks to prevent anyone under 21 from acquiring or carrying handguns or assault rifles in Virginia, McGuire used the incident as evidence that individuals don’t necessarily need firearms for defense.

He noted that while HB 1525 exempts ROTC cadets from the ban, it’s important to recognize that simply having a gun isn’t always required for successful self-defense. “Our heroic cadets showcased that,” he remarked.

These ROTC students successfully overpowered and killed Jallow, though their instructor, Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, aged 42, was tragically shot during the attack.

The assailant, Mohamed Baylor Jallow, a former National Guardsman, previously faced charges for connections to ISIS, resulting in an 11-year prison sentence. He was released early and executed the attack at ODU with a Glock 44.