March 13, 2026 | News | SUNTV Global Channel
The United States was rocked on Thursday by two violent attacks occurring over 700 miles apart: a deadly university shooting in Virginia that claimed the life of an Army officer, and a vehicle-ramming assault on a synagogue in Michigan. Authorities are investigating both incidents as potential acts of terrorism.
In Virginia, the shooting took place at Old Dominion University in a classroom of Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) students. The suspect, 36-year-old Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, a former Virginia National Guard member and convicted supporter of ISIS, reportedly shouted “Allahu Akbar” before opening fire.
The classroom erupted in chaos, but several ROTC students bravely subdued the gunman, preventing what officials described as a potentially much larger massacre. Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, an ROTC instructor, was killed during the attack, while two others sustained injuries. FBI Special Agent in Charge Dominique Evans praised the students’ actions for saving lives.
Jalloh had previously been sentenced to 11 years in federal prison in 2017 for attempting to provide material support to ISIS but was released in December 2024. Investigators note that he had discussed carrying out attacks during Ramadan, the month in which Thursday’s shooting occurred.
Just hours later, a separate attack occurred in West Bloomfield Township, Michigan, targeting the Temple Israel synagogue suspect, 41-year-old Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, a U.S. citizen originally from Lebanon, drove a vehicle loaded with explosives and firearms directly into the building. The vehicle caught fire, causing part of the synagogue to blaze.
Security officers on site quickly responded, evacuating congregants and containing the threat. A security guard was struck by the vehicle but is expected to recover. Investigators are still determining whether the suspect died from gunfire or the fire. At least 30 law enforcement officers were treated for smoke inhalation during the response.
Authorities have deployed more than 100 FBI agents and intelligence personnel to investigate both incidents and assess potential ongoing threats. These attacks have sparked nationwide concerns about security at traditionally safe spaces such as schools and houses of worship, especially amid heightened tensions related to the war in Iran and Israel.
— SUNTV Global Channel Reporting 📰🇺🇸🔥
