Soros-Funded Prosecutor Attributes Campus Tragedy to Gun Rights Advocates
Ramin Fatehi, the Commonwealth's Attorney for Norfolk, Virginia, who has received substantial financial backing from political action committees associated with billionaire George Soros, has ignited significant controversy by directly blaming pro-gun advocates for the deadly mass shooting at Old Dominion University. During a press conference addressing the incident, Fatehi declared the attack a symptom of a "national sickness" rather than an isolated problem for the university.
Prosecutor Dismisses Attacker's Ideology, Focuses on Gun Access
The shooter was identified as Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, a 36-year-old former National Guardsman and U.S. citizen originally from Sierra Leone. Jalloh had a prior conviction from 2015 for supporting ISIS and was released from prison in 2024 after serving nine years of an 11-year sentence for attempting to provide information to the terrorist organizations ISIS and ISIL. Despite this background, Fatehi argued that the attacker's specific ideology was secondary to his access to firearms.
"No matter the ideology of an attacker, that attacker is more dangerous with a gun than without one," stated the left-leaning prosecutor. He emphasized that the core issue was the prevalence of guns in American society, asserting that political will is required to break what he termed the 'cult of gun absolutism.'
Fatehi Doubles Down Amid Conservative Backlash
Fatehi's remarks, which included claims that "people care more about guns than they care about six-year-old children, synagogue worshipers, and college students," drew immediate outrage from conservative commentators and social media users. When confronted by Fox News about the criticism, Fatehi remained defiant.
"I absolutely stand by what I said. It is the truth, no matter how much the gun lobby wants to deny it," he affirmed. He directed blame away from local law enforcement, instead pointing to lawmakers and the Supreme Court for failing to implement what he described as sensible gun control measures.
Financial Backing and Call for Political Reckoning
Campaign finance records reveal that Fatehi's top two donors are the Soros-subsidized Justice and Public Safety PAC and Democracy PAC. A review indicates these groups contributed over $650,000 to his campaigns between 2021 and 2025. Fatehi used the platform to call for a broad political reckoning to reduce gun violence nationwide.
"Until there is the political will to break the spell of the cult of gun absolutism, you will see more incidents like this," he warned. He urged the public to hold legislators and judicial authorities accountable rather than focusing on individual attackers or local officials.
Details of the ODU Shooting and Heroic Response
The shooting occurred on the Old Dominion University campus, where the attacker, Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, reportedly shouted "Allahu Akbar" before opening fire. The incident resulted in the death of Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, a veteran Army helicopter pilot and ROTC leader at the university, and injuries to two other individuals. Jalloh was ultimately subdued and killed by Reserve Officers' Training Corps students, who were praised by the FBI for their "extreme bravery and courage" in preventing further casualties.
FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the incident is being investigated as an act of terrorism. University Police Chief Garrett Shelton noted that initial reports indicated shots were fired in a classroom, but the rapid intervention by ROTC students ended the threat. The FBI spokesperson stated the students "rendered him no longer alive" after subduing him.
Fatehi concluded his remarks by emphasizing mourning for the victims while maintaining focus on systemic change. "Let's mourn the people who've died, let's decry what has happened, but let's keep the focus where it belongs. It belongs on us, and having to change something so that we don't have to suffer through this," he said. The Daily Mail has reached out to Fatehi's office for further comment on the ongoing fallout from his statements.
