A gunman opened fire inside a classroom at Old Dominion University Thursday morning, leaving one person dead, two wounded and the suspect dead when police stormed the scene.
Authorities say the shooting erupted shortly before 10:49 a.m. inside Constant Hall on the Norfolk, Virginia campus.
Students and staff received an emergency alert warning of an “active threat” and urging everyone to follow “Run-Hide-Fight” safety procedures.
Officers rushed toward the building as panic spread across the university. Police Chief Garrett Shelton confirmed during a news conference that officers located the suspected gunman dead when they reached the classroom where the violence occurred.
Investigators also found multiple victims connected to the attack. One victim was transported to a hospital by emergency responders while another victim traveled to a hospital in Virginia Beach on their own, Shelton told reporters. Both victims were listed in stable condition.
Authorities later disclosed that a third victim had also transported themselves to a hospital in Virginia Beach.
“At this time, we’re aware of three victims, all of which are ODU affiliated, and a suspect who is deceased,” Shelton explained during the briefing.
The shooting left one person dead at the scene, investigators confirmed as the initial response unfolded. Officials have not yet released the identity of the deceased victim.
Law enforcement officials say the investigation remains active as detectives piece together the events that unfolded inside the classroom.
Military officials later revealed that two of the victims were connected to the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program at the university.
Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll posted on social media that two Army personnel were among those harmed in the shooting.
Lt. Col. Jimmy Delongchamp, a public information officer for U.S. Army Cadet Command at Fort Knox, confirmed the affiliation while speaking about the injured victims.
“We will continue to coordinate with the university and law enforcement agencies as they investigate the incident,” Delongchamp explained. “There’s still a lot more stuff we have to work out.”
Authorities have not released the names of the victims.
Video recorded by local media during the chaotic aftermath showed a handcuffed man being placed inside a Norfolk police vehicle.
Officials have not provided details explaining that development.
Investigators have also not announced whether additional suspects were involved.
The campus alert system delivered a second message less than an hour after the first warning.
University officials notified students at 11:43 a.m. that there was “no longer a threat” on campus while emergency crews continued securing the scene.
Officials urged students and faculty to stay clear of the area surrounding Constant Hall as investigators processed the location.
Police agencies from across the region joined the response.
Norfolk Police officers worked alongside federal agents from the Washington Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
Authorities say Norfolk police will lead the investigation into the shooting.
Investigators have not identified a motive behind the attack.
Old Dominion University canceled classes and shut down operations on its main campus for the remainder of the day following the shooting.
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University President Brian Hemphill described the violence as a tragedy while addressing the campus community.
The president thanked first responders who rushed to confront the armed suspect and secure the scene.
Counseling services were made available to students, faculty and staff as the university grappled with the aftermath.
Norfolk Police Chief Mark Talbot attempted to reassure residents while investigators continued examining the case.
“I do want to say to the City of Norfolk — we’ve learned nothing here today that makes us think that there’s anything to fear beyond what we’re dealing with here,” Talbot noted while speaking to reporters. “Everything that needs to be handled is going to be handled.”
Talbot also praised the speed of the emergency response. “God bless this university, the police officers and first responders and firefighters that were out here within minutes,” he added.
Another violent incident unfolded the same day at a synagogue in Michigan where authorities responded to an armed suspect who drove a vehicle into a religious building before opening fire.
Investigators say the attack occurred Thursday afternoon at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield. Michigan State Police reported that the suspect rammed a truck into the synagogue before gunfire erupted.
Officials say the vehicle smashed through the doors and traveled down a hallway inside the building.
Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard described the vehicle as moving with clear intent. “He breached the building, drove down the hall, and he was engaged by security,” Bouchard explained while discussing the attack. “We can’t say what killed him at this point, but security did engage the suspect with gunfire.”
Authorities discovered a rifle inside the burned vehicle after the suspect was found dead. Investigators also located what officials described as a large amount of explosives in the truck.
Something inside the vehicle ignited during the incident, creating a fire that complicated the investigation. The suspect’s body was severely burned when emergency responders arrived.
Authorities say a synagogue security guard was struck by the vehicle during the attack. The guard was transported to a hospital and is expected to recover.
Officials say no students or staff inside the synagogue were injured during the violence. Parents rushed into the building after receiving permission from police to retrieve their children.
Investigators are still working to identify the suspect and determine a motive for the attack.
Authorities say police dogs searched the damaged vehicle for explosives while crews worked to clear the building.
“It’s been complicated because there’s some fire, to say the least, with that vehicle,” Bouchard remarked.
Law enforcement officials also acknowledged that tensions connected to international conflict had prompted heightened security concerns.
“We’ve been talking for two weeks about the potential, sadly, of this happening,” Bouchard noted. “So there was no lack of preparation.”
Authorities announced that Jewish facilities across the region would receive increased security as the investigation continues.
“All Jewish facilities in the area are going to have a lot of extra presence around it until we figure this out,” Bouchard added.
Federal authorities also joined the response to the synagogue attack. FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed federal personnel had responded alongside local and state agencies.
The Jewish Federation of Detroit instructed Jewish organizations across the region to enter lockout procedures while the situation unfolded.
Officials also placed Bloomfield Hills schools into secure mode while police worked the scene.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer acknowledged the incident while monitoring developments.
“Michigan’s Jewish community should be able to live and practice their faith in peace,” Whitmer wrote in a public statement. “Antisemitism and violence have no place in Michigan.”
