The Justice Department on Friday charged a Virginia resident with illegally arming the gunman who opened fire at Old Dominion University, leaving one victim dead.
Kenya Chapman sold a Glock pistol to Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, the gunman, for $100 this week, after stealing it from a vehicle in Newport News one year ago, according to a federal complaint. Chapman is charged with making a false statement during a firearm purchase and engaging in the business of firearms dealing without a license, according to the affidavit.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives also investigated him in 2021, but the agency declined to press charges, according to the complaint. At the time, Chapman was given a warning after he admitted to “straw purchasing” three firearms, which occurs when individuals buy a gun with the intent to give it to someone else but claim the purchase is for themselves, prosecutors said.
Jalloh opened fire in a ROTC classroom at Old Dominion on Thursday, killing the teacher, identified as Army Lt. Col. Brandon Shah. Two other U.S. Army personnel in the classroom were injured, according to Army Secretary Dan Driscoll. Chapman later told authorities he had no idea Jalloh would commit the attack, the affidavit said.
The FBI is investigating the shooting as an act of terrorism. During the shooting, Jalloh screamed “Allahu Akbar,” a Muslim term meaning “God is the greatest.”
GUNMAN DEAD AND TWO INJURED FROM SHOOTING AT OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY
Jalloh was previously convicted of providing support to ISIS in 2017 and was released from prison early in 2024, according to the complaint.
The evening before he carried out the attack at Old Dominion University, Jalloh’s phone was tracked in the vicinity of the Islamic Center in Hampton, the complaint alleged.