A Virginia man has been charged with illegally selling the firearm used by Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, the gunman who killed one person and wounded two others in a shooting at Old Dominion University (ODU) on March 12, 2026.
Charges and Weapon Sale Details
Kenya Chapman was charged with making false statements related to selling a weapon to a convicted felon, according to a federal criminal complaint. Chapman allegedly sold a stolen .22 caliber pistol to Jalloh for $100 just days before the shooting. The gun had been stolen approximately one year earlier.
Jalloh, 36, was prohibited from possessing firearms due to his felony conviction. He pleaded guilty in 2016 to providing material support to the Islamic State and was sentenced to 11 years in prison, with credit for time served, plus five years of supervised release. He was released early in December 2024 after completing a drug treatment program.
Background on Mohamed Bailor Jalloh
Jalloh was a naturalized U.S. citizen originally from Sierra Leone and served in the Virginia National Guard from 2009 to 2015 as a combat engineer with an honorable discharge. He was killed at ODU after being disarmed by ROTC students following the shooting that claimed the life of Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, an ROTC instructor.
The FBI is investigating the attack as an act of terrorism. Jalloh had been on supervised release at the time of the shooting. His 2016 conviction related to attempts to procure weapons for an ISIS-inspired attack and sending money to support the group.
Previous Investigations of Kenya Chapman
Chapman was previously investigated by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in 2021 for alleged straw purchasing of three firearms, which were later recovered at various crime scenes, including a homicide. The Department of Justice declined prosecution at the time and issued a warning letter instead. Chapman admitted to selling those guns and issued a letter of apology.
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