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NORFOLK, VA – A tragic incident unfolded at Old Dominion University (ODU) on Thursday morning, leaving one gunman dead and two individuals critically injured following a shooting in the university’s business school building.
According to statements from ODU, the gunman opened fire in Constant Hall, injuring two people who were subsequently transported to the hospital. A spokesperson for Sentara Health confirmed that both victims are in critical condition. Details surrounding the death of the shooter have not yet been released.
Within approximately an hour of the initial reports, ODU declared that the campus threat had been neutralized. The public university, located in coastal Norfolk, immediately canceled all classes and suspended operations on its main campus for the remainder of Thursday. Authorities urged the public to avoid Constant Hall and the surrounding areas as emergency personnel continued their work on site.
In a message to the ODU community, University President Brian Hemphill acknowledged the “tragedy on campus.” He extended his gratitude for the rapid emergency response and offered thoughts and prayers to those affected. “The safety of our campus community is my top priority,” Hemphill wrote, reiterating the university’s commitment to “safeguarding all Monarchs and ensuring a secure learning, living, and working environment at all times.”
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives confirmed its agents were on scene to assist with the response. Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger also stated she was monitoring the situation and that “state support is being mobilized” to aid ODU, though she did not provide further specifics.
Old Dominion University, with its approximately 24,000 students and a significant military-affiliated population, is a prominent institution in Norfolk, an area also home to Naval Station Norfolk, the world’s largest naval station.