A Virginia man, previously investigated for possible firearms crimes, sold a stolen handgun to the convicted ISIS supporter who then used it during his deadly rampage at Old Dominion University, federal authorities said Friday
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A Virginia man, previously investigated for possible firearms crimes, sold a stolen handgun gun to the convicted ISIS supporter who then used it during his deadly rampage at Old Dominion University, federal authorities said Friday.
Kenya Chapman, who lives in Smithfield, was accused of selling a firearm without a license — allegedly providing the weapon used by Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, who opened fire on a classroom of ROTC students at ODU on Thursday, authorities said.
Law enforcement agents served a search warrant at Chapman’s home and “located .22 caliber ammunition consistent with the firearm recovered from the ODU shooting,” according an affidavit by ATF Special Agent Brian Gleason.
Chapman later admitted he sold a gun to Jalloh for $100 cash and even “showed agents the $100 bill provided to him by” the shooter, the affidavit said.
Chapman told ATF and FBI agents “that he stole the aforementioned firearm in Newport News, Virginia, approximately a year prior to the ODU shooting from a vehicle,” Gleason added.
Jalloh “committed a shooting at Old Dominion University, in Norfolk, VA using a Glock 44 .22 caliber firearm with a partially altered serial number,” the court papers said.
Federal prosecutors said the gun sold to Jalloh by Chapman was the one used at ODU.
“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,” Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement.
“Thanks to the hard work of our dedicated ATF and FBI agents, in partnership with state and local law enforcement officers, we have arrested and charged this safety threat and removed him from the community.”
Chapman in 2021 was investigated for possibly “straw purchasing” three guns, two of which ended up being used in a homicide, according to the affidavit. He was ordered to be held in custody and has a court hearing on Tuesday.
Jalloh died after ODU students fought back against him when he entered their ROTC classroom and opened fire, with one of the pupils stabbing the attacker, law enforcement officials said Friday.
After Jalloh started shooting, multiple students attacked him, with one of them stabbing him, two senior law enforcement officials briefed on the investigation told NBC News.
The attacker was subdued by students who “rendered him no longer alive,” according to Dominique Evans, special agent in charge of the agency’s Norfolk field office.
Army Lt. Col. Brandon A. Shah was killed in the attack, and two other Army personnel were wounded, officials said.
“The Old Dominion University community is grieving following the tragic act of violence on our main campus,” according to a statement on the school’s ROTC website Friday.
“We mourn with and support Lt. Col. Brandon Shah’s family, students, and colleagues, and all members of the ODU Army ROTC community.”
ODU freshman Caleb Hardman praised those who stepped in to subdue the shooter.
“The guy who stopped it (is) a hero,” said Hardman, whose roommate was on the first floor of the building where the shooting happened on Thursday.
“He just said he heard the shots and, like, ran as fast as he ever has,” Hardman added.
Campus chaplain Brooke Barnett has been meeting with “shocked” and “sad” students in small groups since the shooting.
“They can’t believe it would happen here,” she said.
The 36-year-old Jalloh had been previously convicted of supporting the Islamic State terrorist group and was on probation when he carried out Thursday’s deadly attack, according to court documents.
Jalloh had apologized for his actions at his 2017 sentencing hearing, saying it did not represent his values or beliefs.
The FBI said it’s investigating Thursday’s shooting in Norfolk as an act of terrorism.
Federal agents asked for the public’s help to learn more about Jalloh.
“The shooting at ODU is a tragic event for our community,” according to an FBI statement. “We mourn the loss of life while we acknowledge the students who showed extreme bravery and courage by stopping the shooter and preventing further loss of life. The FBI is going to dig in and track down every single lead as we work alongside our partners to find answers.”
