ROTC Students Kill Shooter at Old Dominion
A shooting at Old Dominion University left one person dead and others hurt. It did not keep going. ROTC students jumped in. They stopped the attacker with their bare hands.
NBC News reports:
“ROTC students at Old Dominion University subdued and killed shooter who left 1 dead, 2 hurt”
The man who opened fire had a criminal history and ties investigators are probing. He reportedly shouted “Allahu Akbar” before the attack. Authorities moved fast. Campus police and the FBI are leading the investigation.
FBI special agent in charge Dominique Evans praised the cadets. She said they showed “extreme bravery and courage” and that they subdued him and “rendered him no longer alive,” Evans said. “I don’t know how else to say it.”
The scene was chaotic. Students ran. Others hid. Then a group of ROTC members ran toward the threat. They tackled him. They disarmed him. They held him down until he was no longer a danger.
The FBI is treating the shooting as an act of terrorism, officials said. People on campus are shaken. Parents are worried. Students are asking how this happened and what comes next.
This is a raw, violent moment. It also shows a split-second of bravery that likely saved lives. Those cadets acted without thinking about the risk. They put others first.
There will be more questions. How did the attacker get onto campus? Were warning signs missed? What support will victims get? Authorities will answer those, and the community will demand accountability.
Some commentators have already suggested a clear, public recognition for the students. Others want policy changes. One simple idea floated online: invite the cadets to meet with President Donald Trump. It would be a public show of support for people who stopped a killer.
For now, the focus is on the injured and the family of the person killed. Campus safety reviews will follow. The ROTC students’ actions will be part of that story for a long time.
Students at Old Dominion University beat the Muslim attacker to death
Students at Old Dominion University beat the Muslim attacker to death
pic.twitter.com/IOtSsOBlEV— captive dreamer (@captive_dreamer) March 12, 2026