March 12 Security Incident
On March 12, 2026, an armed assailant committed a terrorist attack inside Constant Hall, located on Kaufman Mall on the campus of Old Dominion University (ODU).
Contents
History
Two R.O.T.C. students and their teacher, Lieutenant Colonel Brandon A. Shah ’07, subdued the attacker before more lives were lost. The two students were hospitalized but Lieutenant Colonel Shah later passed away from his injuries. Classes were cancelled for the rest of the day and the following day. The Monarch Strong campaign kicked off after the incident to offer students, faculty, and staff support and counseling as a result of the tragedy. A public memorial for Lieutenant Colonel Shah was held at Chartway Arena on March 22, 2026. Constant Hall was closed down for the rest of the Spring 2026 semester. On September 4, 2026, the Army ROTC wing at Rollins Hall was renamed the Lieutenant Colonel Brandon A. Shah Wing, and a seven-foot granite memorial to Lieutenant Colonel Shah was also placed outside Rollins Hall.
Resources
- We Are Monarch Strong, Old Dominion University, https://www.odu.edu/forever-monarch-strong
References
- Grinkewitz, Jonah. “Remembering Lt. Col. Brandon A. Shah ’07, Who Defined Leadership, Service and Heroism at ODU,” ODU News Center, 30 March 2026, https://www.odu.edu/article/remembering-lt-col-brandon-a-shah-07-who-defined-leadership-service-and-heroism-at-odu, accessed 7 April 2026.
- Godette, Kenya and Virginia Hilton. “Lt. Col. Brandon A. Shah’s Legacy Claims Its Rightful Place and Permanent Home at Old Dominion University,” ODU News Center, 16 September 2026, https://www.odu.edu/article/remembering-lt-col-brandon-a-shah-07-who-defined-leadership-service-and-heroism-at-odu, accessed 16 September 2026.