Justice Department charges man accused of selling gun to Old Dominion University shooter

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — A man was charged Friday with selling a stolen gun to Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, a former member of the Army National Guard who used it to kill one person and wound two others at Old Dominion University, federal authorities said.

The charges come a day after the attack by Jalloh, who had previously spent eight years in prison for attempting to aid the Islamic State group. Authorities say Jalloh yelled “Allahu akbar” before opening fire in a classroom at the Virginia school and being killed by ROTC students.

The shooting happened in a class attended by active duty servicemembers and ROTC students, according to court papers. Jalloh twice asked those in the room to confirm that it was an ROTC event before he began to shoot, the document says. Jalloh was taking online classes at the university at the time of the shooting.

ROTC students receive a scholarship to attend college while training to become commissioned officers in the U.S. military.

The man charged Friday, Kenya Chapman, told federal agents in an interview that he stole the gun from a car in Newport News, Virginia, about a year before the shooting and recently sold it to Jalloh, according to an affidavit filed in court. Chapman said he met Jalloh at work and that Jalloh told him he needed the gun for protection as a delivery driver, the affidavit says.

Chapman said he knew Jalloh had spent some time behind bars but denied knowing he had a previous felony conviction, which made it illegal for Jalloh to possess a firearm. He told agents he had no idea Jalloh would commit the attack, the affidavit says.

Chapman is charged with making a false statement during a firearm purchase and engaging in the business of firearms dealing without a license. Chapman's attorneys declined to comment Friday.

“Chapman allegedly stole a firearm and illegally sold it to a convicted terrorist, who murdered a decorated American veteran, and he will finally face the full weight of justice,” U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a social media post.

The gun’s serial number was partially obliterated, complicating authorities’ efforts to trace the firearm. But authorities ultimately found Chapman through phone records showing multiple calls between him and Jalloh in the week prior to the shooting, according to the affidavit.

Federal authorities had previously investigated Chapman in 2021 for straw purchases, when someone buys a gun for a person who can’t get it legally themselves. He was issued a “straw purchaser warning letter” and he wrote a letter of apology after admitting to the straw purchases in 2021, according to the document.

The case was presented to the U.S. attorney at the time but the office declined to prosecute, according to the Justice Department.

Jalloh was subdued and killed by ROTC students, according to FBI officials who praised the students' bravery for preventing further harm. The shooting killed an ROTC leader who was a professor of military science at ODU.

One of the people wounded was hospitalized in critical condition but has since been upgraded to fair condition, according to Sentara Health. The other was treated and released.

Jalloh, who was sentenced to 11 years in prison in the Islamic State group case, was released from federal custody in December 2024. He was on supervised release, which is comparable to probation.

He was released about 2 1/2 years early after completing a drug treatment program, a person familiar with the matter told the AP. The person was not authorized to speak publicly and did so on condition of anonymity.

It wasn’t clear how Jalloh qualified for the program, which allows inmates to shave up to a year off their sentences. Inmates serving sentences for terrorism-related offenses typically aren’t eligible for such programs or other sentence-reducing credits.

A message seeking information about Jalloh’s incarceration and release was left with the federal Bureau of Prisons.

At a news conference Thursday, a reporter asked the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Norfolk field office, Dominique Evans, if Jalloh had mentioned the ongoing war in Iran, and Evans said there was no mention “whatsoever." The U.S. and Israel launched a war with Iran with missile strikes on Feb. 28.

Evans on Thursday also requested the public's help in the investigation, saying no detail is too small.

Old Dominion University Police Chief Garrett Shelton said less than 10 minutes passed between when officers were called about a shooting in the university’s business school building and when responders determined the shooter was dead. Authorities have not said exactly how the ROTC students killed Jalloh, though Evans said they did not shoot him.

The U.S. Army Cadet Command has said on social media that three members of the U.S. Army ROTC program at Old Dominion were wounded, including one who died.

Jalloh also had served. The naturalized U.S. citizen from Sierra Leone was a specialist with the Virginia Army National Guard from 2009 until 2015, when he was honorably discharged.

The man killed was Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, a 42-year-old from Chesapeake who leaves behind a spouse and a child, the U.S. Army Cadet Command said in a social media post.

Shah attended ODU as an ROTC student, according to his biography on the university’s website, and had returned in 2022 as a leader for the program. In the Army, Shah piloted helicopters over Iraq, Afghanistan and Eastern Europe.

“Above all else, Lt. Col. Shah embodied what it means to be a devoted family man, a revered leader, and heroic protector even in his final moments,” Old Dominion President Brian Hemphill said in a Friday message to the university community.

On campus Friday morning, in honor of his close friend Shah, Eddie Flack poured out a bottle of Wild Turkey on a lawn across from Constant Hall. Flack, also of Chesapeake, said the two became firm friends while enrolled at ODU.

“I love you Brandon. Rest well with the creator. I love you,” Flack said as he poured out the whiskey and looked up at the sky.

“Sorry Brandon. The world needs more love,” Flack said, weeping. “We need to spread more love and not this hatred."

This story has been corrected to show the AP reporter in the byline is Allen G. Breed, not Alan.

Durkin Richer reported from Washington and Sisak reported from New York City. Associated Press reporters Michael Biesecker in Washington; Adrian Sainz in Memphis, Tennessee; Jonathan Mattise in Nashville, Tennessee; John Raby in Cross Lanes, West Virginia; and Olivia Diaz in Richmond, Virginia, contributed.

Eddie Flack pour out a bottle of whiskey at the base of the flagpoles in front of Constant Hall as he pays respect to slain Lt. Col. Brandon Shah at Old Dominion University on Friday, March 13, 2026 in Norfolk, Va. (AP Photo/Allen G. Breed)

A person sits at the front door of Constant Hall, where yesterday shooting occurred on Friday, March 13, 2026 at Old Dominion Universiy in Norfolk, Va. (AP Photo/Allen G. Breed).

Police are present at Constant Hall, where yesterday shooting occurred on Friday, March 13, 2026 at Old Dominion Universiy in Norfolk, Va. (AP Photo/Allen G. Breed).

This photo provided by the U.S. Army shows Maj. Brandon Shah, Friday, Jan. 14, 2020, in Illesheim, Germany. (Pfc. Savannah Roy/U.S. Army/DVIDS via AP)

MILAN (AP) — The United States is looking to do something no nation has ever done: Clean sweep the ice hockey tournaments at the Olympics and Paralympics.

Standing in the way? Canada again.

Just like in the men’s and women’s tournaments at the Olympics, Sunday’s gold medal match in Para ice hockey will be between the U.S. and Canada.

“We got to do our part, right? So they got the two done, so now it’s our job and we just got to bring it home for them,” U.S. forward Kevin McKee told The Associated Press.

Naturally, Canada wants bragging rights in the rivalry and to break American Para hearts.

“It is a source of pride for us just to win, like we believe Canada is THE hockey country and we want to prove that,” Canada forward Adam Dixon said.

Both teams dominated the group stage at the Paralympics, each winning all three of their matches. The U.S. then beat the Czech Republic 6-1 in Friday’s semifinals, when Canada struggled at times before overcoming China 4-2.

Canada Para ice hockey captain Tyler McGregor said the two Olympic losses were not playing on his teammates’ minds.

“No. You know what, we’re going to write our own story,” he said. “We watched both our men’s and women’s team compete here a few weeks ago and they played phenomenal.

“Those were two of the best hockey games I’ve ever seen, but this is our story at the Paralympics and we have a chance to bring home a gold medal for Canada. And what an honor that would be.”

Rather than avenge the Olympic defeats, Canada is driven more to avenge losses to the U.S. in the past two gold-medal matches at the Paralympics. It has also lost to the U.S. in four of the past five world championship finals.

“That kind of fuels us,” forward Liam Hickey said. "We’ve learned from those. They’re a great team and we’ve had a great rivalry for as long as this sport’s been around. So for us it’s another kind of chance for redemption and we’re excited for it.”

If the U.S. achieves the treble, it would be the second straight year it has swept the major tournaments, having won the men’s and women’s world championships and world Para ice hockey championship in 2025.

There is no women’s division at the Paralympics as its classified as an open-gender sport.

U.S. defender Jack Wallace said the group has been talking about the sweep since watching the women’s Olympic final together during a training camp. They were also messaging each other during the men’s final.

Coach David Hoff would prefer his players bury all thoughts of a sweep before Sunday’s final.

“There’s a lot of talk about it,” Hoff admitted. “I think for us it’s really just putting the blinders on and really focusing on what we have to do. Don’t let that outside stuff cloud your preparation or bother you. Sometimes that’s hard to do but I think our guys have really done a good job.”

While the Olympics saw the U.S. men’s team win gold for the first time since the “Miracle on Ice” in 1980, it’s a different story at the Paralympics.

The U.S. has triumphed at five of the past six Paralympics and several players are targeting a fourth straight gold medal. Captain Josh Pauls is incredibly aiming for a fifth.

“You’ve got to enjoy the guys you’re playing with,” Pauls said when asked about the team’s secret to success. “We have such a brotherhood, we just enjoy playing the game, we enjoy competing, we enjoy getting better, but also helping the other guy across from us get better.

“And I mean, I am just so glad to play another team other than our guys, because man, our guys are really tough to play.”

AP Winter Paralympics: https://apnews.com/hub/paralympic-games

United State's Declan Farmer, center, celebrates with his teammates after scoring his side's first goal during a semifinal hockey match between United States and Czech Republic at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Milan, Italy, Friday, March 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Canada players celebrate after winning a semifinal hockey match between against China at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Milan, Italy, Friday, March 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

United States players celebrate after winning a semifinal hockey match against Czech Republic at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Milan, Italy, Friday, March 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

Canada players celebrate after winning a semifinal hockey match between against China at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Milan, Italy, Friday, March 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)

United State's Josh Pauls celebrates after scoring a goal during a semifinal hockey match between United States and Czech Republic at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, in Milan, Italy, Friday, March 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)