Kenya Chapman has been charged with selling a firearm to Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, the gunman who killed one person and injured two others at Old Dominion University (ODU) in Virginia on Thursday. The US Department of Justice announced the federal charges on Friday, alleging that Chapman sold the weapon despite Jalloh's prior terrorism conviction.
Chapman faces charges of making a false statement during a firearm purchase and engaging in the business of firearms dealing without a license. According to court documents, Chapman told investigators he stole the gun from a car in Newport News about a year before the shooting and sold it to Jalloh, whom he met at work. Jalloh claimed he needed the gun for protection as a delivery driver.
Chapman admitted knowing Jalloh had spent time in prison but denied awareness of his felony conviction. He stated he had no idea Jalloh would commit the attack. The firearm used had an obliterated serial number, complicating the investigation into its origin.
Jalloh, a former army national guard member, shouted “Allahu Akbar” before opening fire in a classroom. He was subdued and killed by ROTC students. The deceased victim was Lieutenant Colonel Brandon Shah, an ROTC leader and army helicopter pilot who served in Iraq, Afghanistan, and eastern Europe. ODU President Brian Hemphill praised Shah as a devoted family man and heroic protector.
Jalloh had pleaded guilty in 2016 to attempting to aid the Islamic State group and was sentenced to 11 years in prison. He was released from federal custody in December 2024 and was on supervised release at the time of the shooting. The FBI confirmed there was no mention of the ongoing war in Iran during the incident.
