Over the past two weeks, a string of violent incidents across the United States has renewed concerns about domestic security, radicalization, and the effectiveness of the systems meant to prevent extremist attacks. Four separate attacks or attempted attacks — spanning Virginia, Michigan, New York, and Texas — have drawn federal investigations and political debate over what failed, why these individuals were able to act, and what policy changes might follow.
While the cases vary in details, each involves individuals who authorities say had ties to Islamist extremist ideology or expressed support for the Islamic State (ISIS). The incidents have also ignited controversy over political responses to the attacks, particularly after local officials emphasized gun control while critics argued that the attacks instead exposed failures in counterterrorism and criminal justice policies.
ROTC Students Stop Gunman at Old Dominion University
The most recent incident unfolded Thursday morning at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia.
According to investigators, a gunman entered a classroom connected to the university’s Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program and opened fire. Witnesses said the attacker shouted the Arabic phrase “Allahu akbar” — meaning “God is great” — during the shooting.
The attack lasted less than 10 minutes.
ROTC students inside the classroom quickly responded, disarming and killing the shooter before he could continue the assault. Three people were injured in the shooting, and one later died at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital.
U.S. Rep. Jen Kiggans later identified the victim who died as Lt. Col. Brandon Shah, the head of the university’s ROTC program and a professor of military science.
Federal investigators identified the gunman as Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, a former member of the Army National Guard.
Jalloh had previously been convicted on terrorism-related charges. In February 2017, he was sentenced for attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, widely known as ISIS or ISIL.
According to court filings connected to that case, Jalloh had discussed extremist ideology extensively with an FBI confidential source.
The statement of facts filed with his plea agreement described his admiration for prior attacks on U.S. military personnel. It also indicated he had contemplated carrying out a similar assault.
In June 2016, Jalloh traveled to North Carolina in an attempt to obtain firearms. The following month he visited a gun dealership in northern Virginia where he test-fired and purchased a rifle. Authorities later revealed the weapon had been rendered inoperable as part of an undercover FBI operation, and he was arrested shortly afterward.
After serving time in federal prison, Jalloh was eventually released. Authorities are now investigating how he obtained the firearm used in the Old Dominion shooting and whether any warning signs were missed after his release.
Political Debate Follows Norfolk Shooting
The incident quickly triggered political reactions from local officials.
Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney Ramin Fatehi condemned gun violence broadly in remarks following the shooting.
“We live in a country where people care more about guns than they care about six-year-old children. They care more about guns than they care about synagogue worshippers. And they care more about guns than they do about college students,” Fatehi said.
He continued:
“What that means is that it does not matter how hard OCU President [Brian] Hemphill works, how hard the chiefs work, somebody will be a victim eventually. It is a matter of time. And until there is the political will to break the spell of the cult of gun absolutism, you will see more incidents like this.”
Critics of the statement argue the attack raises different questions — particularly how a convicted terrorism offender was released and later able to obtain a weapon.
One proposal that has resurfaced in the wake of the attack is the TRACER Act, a bill proposed by congressional Republicans that would require federal authorities to notify local law enforcement when prisoners convicted of terrorism-related crimes are released into their communities. The legislation has been introduced several times but has not passed Congress.
Vehicle Attack Attempt at Michigan Synagogue
The same day as the Virginia shooting, another incident occurred near Detroit.
Authorities say a man drove a vehicle into a hallway at Temple Israel, one of the largest Reform synagogues in the United States, located in West Bloomfield Township.
The suspect, identified as Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, was shot and killed by security personnel after his vehicle crashed and caught fire.
Federal officials say Ghazali was a naturalized U.S. citizen who had been born in Lebanon and immigrated to the United States in 2011 on an immediate relative visa as the spouse of a U.S. citizen. He became a U.S. citizen in 2016.
The FBI described the attack as a targeted act of violence against the Jewish community.
Jennifer Runyan, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Detroit field office, confirmed that federal investigators are leading the probe.
Despite the severity of the incident, no congregants were harmed. About 140 children were inside the synagogue’s early childhood center at the time of the attack.
Investigators are examining possible motives, including reports that several of Ghazali’s relatives were killed days earlier in a military strike in Lebanon.
ISIS-Inspired Bomb Attempt in New York
Earlier in the week, federal prosecutors announced charges against two men accused of throwing explosive devices at police officers near Gracie Mansion in New York City.
The suspects, Emir Balat and Ibrahim Kayumi, allegedly hurled improvised explosive devices at officers Saturday night before being arrested.
According to court documents released by the U.S. Department of Justice, Balat made several statements referencing extremist ideology after his arrest.
While being transported to a precinct, prosecutors say Balat told officers: “this isn’t a religion that just stands when people talk about the blessed name of the prophet . . . We take action! We take action!”
He later wrote on a piece of paper provided by officers: “All praise is due to Allah lord of all worlds! I pledge my allegiance to the Islamic State. Die in your rage yu kuffar! Emir B.”
“Kuffar” is an Arabic term referring to nonbelievers and has frequently appeared in ISIS propaganda.
Kayumi also allegedly admitted extremist sympathies during questioning. According to investigators, he stated that he had watched ISIS propaganda and that his actions were partly inspired by the terrorist organization.
Both men are U.S.-born citizens whose parents immigrated from Turkey and Afghanistan. Authorities say they recently traveled abroad, including extended stays in Istanbul and visits to Saudi Arabia.
Federal investigators are reviewing their online activity and overseas contacts as part of the ongoing case.
Austin Mass Shooting Suspect Had History of Violent Threats
The fourth case occurred earlier this month in Austin, where a gunman killed four people and injured 15 others in a mass shooting outside a downtown bar on March 1.
Authorities identified the suspect as Ndiaga Diagne.
A review of police and court records shows Diagne had a long history of alleged threats and violence prior to the shooting.
In 2020, his then-wife reported that he grabbed her arm and “yanked” her out of his vehicle before shoving her to the ground and threatening to kill her. The couple later divorced, and a court decree cited a “history or pattern of committing family violence.”
Other incidents included workplace violence allegations. In a lawsuit filed after the shooting, a Texas woman claimed Diagne physically assaulted her months earlier while they were working at a factory operated by Tesla.
Despite the numerous reports, no arrests or criminal charges resulted from those earlier incidents.
Diagne originally entered the United States in March 2000 on a tourist visa. He later became a lawful permanent resident in 2006 after marrying a U.S. citizen and was naturalized as a U.S. citizen in 2013.
Broader Questions About Counterterrorism and Prevention
Taken together, the four incidents have prompted renewed scrutiny of how authorities track potential extremists and how warning signs are handled.
Key issues under debate include:
Monitoring of individuals previously convicted of terrorism offenses
Information sharing between federal and local law enforcement
Immigration and naturalization screening processes
Handling of domestic violence and behavioral red flags
The role of extremist online propaganda in radicalization
Experts have long debated whether convicted extremists pose a high risk of reoffending after release. Some past studies suggested recidivism rates among extremist offenders were relatively low compared to other types of criminals.
But the recent attacks — particularly the Norfolk shooting involving a previously convicted ISIS supporter — are likely to intensify calls for stricter monitoring and policy changes.
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