Norfolk University Professor Killed in Shooting Was Combat Veteran from Chesapeake

Lieutenant Colonel Brandon Shah, a 42-year-old Army ROTC professor at Old Dominion University, was fatally shot on campus Thursday. The Chesapeake native served as an Apache helicopter pilot in Iraq and Afghanistan before becoming a beloved mentor to students.

A decorated military officer who taught Army ROTC at Old Dominion University has been identified as the victim killed in Thursday’s campus shooting in Norfolk, Virginia.

Lieutenant Colonel Brandon Shah, age 42, lost his life to gunshot wounds during the incident at ODU. Shah, originally from Chesapeake, Virginia, served as the university’s Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps professor of military science.

University President Brian Hemphill praised Shah as a cherished and admired leader on campus. “Lt. Col. Shah was a beloved and respected leader at Old Dominion University. He personally guided students in the Army ROTC Monarch Battalion through his caring spirit and combat experience,” Hemphill stated.

The president further described Shah as someone who “embodied what it means to be a devoted family man, a revered leader, and heroic protector even in his final moments.”

Shah’s military career began when he joined the Army in 2003. Two years later, he became a student at Old Dominion University, where he would eventually work. He earned his commission as an officer and completed his bachelor’s degree in sociology in 2007.

During his service as an Army aviator, Shah piloted AH64 Apache helicopters during deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. According to President Hemphill, Shah accumulated more than 1,200 flight hours, with 600 of those hours during combat operations across three different aircraft.

In honor of Shah’s service and sacrifice, Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger has directed that American and Virginia state flags be lowered to half-staff at all state and local government properties.

Family background details emerged when Shah’s cousin spoke to NBC News, explaining that Shah was born in the United States after his father emigrated from Pakistan.

Federal authorities have launched a terrorism investigation into Thursday’s shooting incident, which left Shah dead and two other people wounded. The FBI confirmed they are leading the probe into the attack.

All three shooting victims had connections to the university, which maintains strong relationships with military institutions according to its official website. The person responsible for the shooting also died during the incident.