Kenya Chapman, the Smithfield man facing multiple gun charges, one connected to his alleged sale of a gun to Mohamed Bailor Jalloh — the man who opened fire on a classroom on Old Dominion University’s campus last week, killing one and injuring two others — pleaded not guilty in federal court Thursday.
News 3 anchor Anthony Sabella was in the courtroom when Chapman’s attorney entered a plea of not guilty to four charges: three related to making false statements when purchasing a firearm dating back to 2021, and a March 2026 charge of dealing firearms without a license.
Court documents obtained by News 3 last week showed that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms was aware that Chapman had engaged in three straw purchases of guns — that is, legally buying a gun and selling/giving it to someone who cannot legally purchase a gun.
Watch related: ODU shooter re-enrolled under Virginia law banning criminal history questions on applications
ODU shooter Mohamed Jalloh re-enrolled at ODU under Virginia law that bans criminal history questions on college applications
Two of those guns were recovered by Newport News police in a homicide investigation, the documents show…