Additional Coverage:
- Case against man prosecutors say sold gun to Old Dominion shooter provides new details on the attack (cnn.com)
Justice Department Charges Man in ODU Shooting, New Details Emerge
NORFOLK, VA – The Justice Department announced charges Friday against a man accused of selling the firearm used in the recent Old Dominion University (ODU) shooting, shedding new light on the Virginia attack and raising questions about the perpetrator’s early release from prison.
Kenya Mcchell Chapman was arrested in connection with the sale of a pistol to Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, a former national guard member with a prior conviction for attempting to support the Islamic State. Jalloh opened fire in an ROTC classroom on Thursday, March 12, 2026.
According to court documents in the Chapman case, Jalloh entered a “class/meeting” at ODU attended by active-duty service members and ROTC students. Before opening fire, he reportedly asked twice to confirm it was an “ROTC event” and shouted “Allahu Akbar” (Arabic for “God is greater”). Jalloh was ultimately subdued and killed by ROTC members in the room before law enforcement arrived.
This incident has prompted scrutiny into why Jalloh was released from prison approximately two and a half years before his scheduled sentence completion and whether authorities had prior intelligence regarding his activities leading up to the attack.
The Investigation Unravels
Investigators faced immediate challenges, as the serial number on the Glock pistol used by Jalloh had been partially obliterated, hindering immediate tracing. This process is crucial for determining how a convicted felon might acquire a firearm.
However, a breakthrough came with Jalloh’s phone, found next to his body. A frequently contacted number from the week before the shooting was traced to Chapman. Law enforcement was already familiar with Chapman, who had been under federal investigation for straw-purchasing firearms and had previously received a “warning letter” from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
When agents searched Chapman’s home Friday morning, he initially claimed to have found the gun “in the woods.” He later admitted to stealing it from a car in Newport News, Virginia, about a year prior and selling it to Jalloh for $100.
Chapman stated he was unaware of Jalloh’s intentions, claiming Jalloh told him the gun was for protection as a delivery driver. While Chapman knew Jalloh had been incarcerated, he denied knowledge of Jalloh’s felony conviction.
Court documents also reveal that Jalloh was on court-mandated probation at the time of the shooting, with his probation officer conducting visits only every six months. The last visit was in November 2025.
The data from Jalloh’s phone allowed investigators to reconstruct his movements in the days preceding the shooting, showing repeated travel between his home, the university, Chapman’s residence, and an Islamic Center, all located in Virginia.
This story was updated with additional reporting.
Correction: A previous version of this post misstated the type of gun used in the attack. Court documents describe the gun as a Glock pistol.