Inside the ODU ROTC Terror Attack: Cadets Share Their Story

The  United States Army ROTC has posted a YouTube video featuring Old Dominion University ROTC cadets who stopped a terrorist after he killed an ROTC professor of military science and injured two cadets.


In the 17-minute video, the cadets share their experiences from inside the classroom for the first time.

Cadet Louis Ancheta, who received the Purple Heart and Meritorious Service Medal, is a student at Old Dominion University and also serves in the U.S. Army Reserve.

Cadet Wesley Myers, who also received a Meritorious Service Medal, explained that he was preparing to give a presentation that day and wanted to make sure everything was ready.

Ancheta remembered Colonel Shaw’s advice that media issues are one of the biggest presentation problems. Despite feeling nervous, the class went smoothly, and Colonel Shaw was about to dismiss everyone.

Cadet Oshea Bego, a military science IV student, said it was probably the only day the whole class stayed because of the presentations.

Cadet Cecilia Fosso, another military science IV student, recalled that Colonel Shaw mentioned he would be having surgery and might not be around much during spring break.

Then, someone entered the room. The cadets were unsure if the person was early for another class or had been there before.

Cadet Jah-Ire Urtarte, who was sitting in the front row near the door, said the man asked if this was the ROTC classroom.

Cadet Samuel Reineberg, who also received a Meritorious Service Medal, said the man nervously asked again if it was ROTC or a seminar.

Suddenly, the man reached into his waistband, pulled out what looked like a Glock, shouted Allahu Akbar, and started shooting at Colonel Shaw.

Cadet Samora Robinson, another military science IV student, was shocked and fell to the ground.

Ancheta quickly reacted, opened his pocket knife, and saw Colonel Shaw wrestling with the attacker.

One cadet said that if Colonel Shaw had not confronted the shooter, the attacker might have targeted the entire class.

Ancheta kept moving forward and was shot again. As Colonel Shaw managed to turn the attacker around, Ancheta used the chance to stab the man several times while other cadets joined in to help.

Many Sierra Leonean immigrants are now asking why Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, who already had a criminal record because of his dealings with a terrorist organization 10 years ago, was allowed to keep his citizenship and was not deported after serving his prison sentence.

He was sentenced to 11 years in 2017 and released early in 2024. 

After returning to his Virginia community, he was only checked on by his parole officer every six months.

During this time, Jalloh bought a stolen gun for a $100 from Kenya Chapman, who was charged by the U.S. Department of Justice one day after the attack by Jalloh.

During sentencing, Jalloh pleaded guilty to attempting to provide material support to a terrorist organization and took responsibility for his offense.

He also claimed that every action he took came at the direction, urging, or importuning of another person, and, in each instance, he was susceptible to those influences due to his gullibility, emotional impairments, and psychological vulnerability.

Clearly, Jalloh’s actions were always purposefully evil and unconflicted. You can watch the video here.