Man Charged in Sale of Gun Used in Old Dominion Shooting
Kenya Mcchell Chapman was charged after investigators tied a Glock 44 .22-caliber pistol sold for $100 to Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, who opened fire in an ODU ROTC class.
CBS NewsMan charged with selling stolen firearm used in Old Dominion shooting, officials say
ABC NewsFeds arrest man who allegedly sold gun to Old Dominion shooter
Daily CallerMan Accused Of Selling ISIS-Inspired Shooter Stolen Gun Was Caught Doing The Same Thing Under Biden
PBS NewsHourJustice Department charges man accused of selling gun to Old Dominion shooter
Overview
Federal prosecutors arrested Kenya Mcchell Chapman on Friday and charged him with three counts of making false statements and one count of selling a firearm without a license after investigators said he sold the gun used in the Old Dominion University shooting, the Justice Department said.
Mohamed Bailor Jalloh entered a classroom at Old Dominion University, twice confirmed it was an ROTC event, shouted "Allahu Akbar" and opened fire, killing an instructor and injuring two students, according to court documents and FBI officials.
The FBI said it is investigating the shooting as an act of terrorism.
Jalloh, 36, pleaded guilty in 2016 to attempting to provide material support to ISIS, was sentenced to 11 years and was released in December 2024, court records show.
Chapman told agents he stole a Glock 44 .22-caliber pistol from a car in Newport News about a year earlier and sold it to Jalloh for $100, and Chapman could face a maximum of 35 years in prison if convicted, officials said.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story by emphasizing ROTC heroism and treating the shooting as terrorism through selective inclusion of official praise, the suspect's prior ISIS conviction and reported 'Allahu Akbar' exclamation, while relying heavily on law-enforcement voices; editorial choices foreground hero narratives and security framing rather than broader context or community perspectives.
FAQ
Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, 36, is the shooter in the Old Dominion University ROTC class incident. He pleaded guilty in 2016 to attempting to provide material support to ISIS, was sentenced to 11 years, and released in December 2024.[1]
Kenya Mcchell Chapman faces three counts of making false statements and one count of selling a firearm without a license. He could face a maximum of 35 years in prison if convicted.
Investigators traced Chapman's number from Jalloh's phone, found next to his body, as a frequent contact before the shooting. The Glock 44's serial number was partially obliterated, but a search of Chapman's home found matching ammunition.[1]
On March 12, Jalloh entered an ROTC classroom, confirmed it was an ROTC event twice, shouted 'Allahu Akbar,' and opened fire, killing instructor Brandon Shah and injuring two students. The FBI is investigating it as terrorism.[1]
Chapman was previously investigated for straw-purchasing firearms, received a warning letter from ATF, and had to write an apology. In 2021, three firearms he bought were recovered from crime scenes, including a homicide.[1]