Gunman, one victim dead in shooting at Old Dominion University in US

Authorities say suspect opened fire in a university building, FBI investigating as ‘act of terror’.

Authorities have announced that one victim has died after a gunman opened fire at Old Dominion University in Virginia.

The attack on Thursday was the latest shooting at a university in the United States, where gun violence has remained persistently high compared to other Western countries.

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Authorities said the gunman was also killed during the shooting, although how the suspect was killed was not immediately clear. The gunman’s identity also has not yet been released.

Old Dominion University Police Chief Garrett Shelton said two other victims appeared to be in stable condition.

In an emergency alert, the university said the shooter had opened fire shortly before 10:49am local time (14:49 GMT) in Constant Hall, the centre of the university’s ⁠college of business.

In a post on X Thursday afternoon, FBI Director Kash Patel said students had helped to subdue the attacker.

“The shooter is now deceased thanks to a group of brave students who stepped in and subdued him – actions that undoubtedly saved lives along with the quick response of law enforcement,” he said.

Patel added that shooting was being investigated as an “act of terrorism”.

Governor Abigail Spanberger also indicated that she was monitoring the situation.

“My administration remains in close contact with local emergency responders as state support is being mobilized to assist ODU and Norfolk,” she said in a post on X.

Authorities said there was no longer an active threat on campus, where classes were cancelled for the remainder of Thursday.

Gun violence in the US has remained stubbornly high and has often occurred at US schools.

The advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety found that there have been at least 19 instances of gunfire on campuses, from elementary schools to universities, since the start of 2026.

However, the Trace news site, which tracks gun violence, also noted that shootings — not including suicides — have dropped in recent years after spiking during the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, 110 people were shot per day in the US in 2025.

In December, two people were killed in a shooting at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, that prompted a weeks-long manhunt.

Earlier that month, one person was also killed in a shooting at Kentucky State University.