Justice Department charges man accused of selling gun to Old Dominion University shooter

ABC ^ | March 13, 2026 | ALLEN G. BREED, MICHAEL R, SISAK and ALANNA DURKIN RICHER

[xxqqzz]

NORFOLK, Va. -- The Justice Department on Friday charged a man who authorities say sold a gun to the Old Dominion University shooter despite the gunman's previous conviction in a terrorism case.

Kenya Chapman is facing federal charges in connection to the sale of the weapon to Mohamed Bailor Jalloh, a former Army National Guard member who yelled "Allahu akbar" before he opened fire in a classroom at the Virginia school on Thursday, according to authorities. One person was killed and two others were injured in the shooting.

Jalloh was barred from possessing a gun given a previous felony conviction for attempting to aid the Islamic State extremist group.

Chapman told agents in an interview that he stole the gun from a car in Newport News, Virginia, about a year before the shooting and recently sold it to Jalloh. Chapman said he met Jalloh at work and that Jalloh told him he needed the gun for protection as a delivery driver, according to court papers. Chapman told agents he knew Jalloh had spent some time behind bars but denied knowing he had a previous felony conviction.

Chapman told agents he had no idea the man would commit the attack, the affidavit says.

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TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; US: Virginia
KEYWORDS: banglist; felonboughtstolengun; gun; obliteratedsn; stolenfirearm; stolenrifle

[xxqqzz]

Apparently, it was a stolen gun, but how does he know the guy he sold it to was a terrorist.

[T.B. Yoits]

The thief who sold the murderer the stolen handgun should be charged under the Felony Murder Rule.

[orionrising]

doesnt say exactly what he was charged with. probably charged with the theft, probably was a felon in himself possession and the serial number crime.

[KrisKrinkle]

Tell me again how they found out this guy sold the gun to Jalloh. Did Jalloh scream it out with hid dying breath or something?

[Fido969]

Chapman told agents in an interview that he stole the gun from a car in Newport News, Virginia, about a year before the shooting and recently sold it to Jalloh.

My wife watches all these cop shows. The killer eventually breaks down and confesses to EVERYTHING.

Meanwhile my wife is yelling at the TV: "LAWYER! LAWYER! LAWYER!"

[WinstonSmith1984]

Man bites dog type of story. Private sales of fire arms are completely unregulated and that is good thing. Our Government is corrupted and ran by a bunch of pedophiles who keep the same compromised pedophiles in power.

[Vermont Lt]

Private sales are still supposed to follow the law.

A private sale to a felon is a bad thing. And this should serve as an example as to why it’s a bad thing.

I hope they throw the book at this fool.

[Equine1952]

As an FFL holder I reserve the right to refuse a sale to anybody i choose to not deal with for any damn reason I want. I’m licensed mainly for myself and friends I’m particular as h&ll who I deal with. The current climate makes this habit more and more applicable to private sales. Right or wrong private sales of firearms is becoming more scrutinized. I have no choice, Joe Public on the other hand may want to consider who they deal with. This was just one azzhole to another.

[circlecity]

“ Chapman told agents he knew Jalloh had spent some time behind bars but denied knowing he had a previous felony conviction.”

Yeah, sell that one to the jury.

[Equine1952]

I couldn’t get past Voir Dire.

[US_MilitaryRules]

Probably texts on the shooters phone. Or phone calls.

[P8riot]

Universal background checks would’ve kept this from happening. /sarc

[Mouton]

Are their universal background checks on buying a car? I did not think so albeit it can be as or more dangerous than a firearm.

[xone]

Or the gun serial number was associated with the seller.

[SuperLuminal]

"...Jalloh had spent some time behind bars but denied knowing he had a previous felony conviction."

Well, DUH!

[Segovia]

If a private citizen who sold him a gun is culpable, then the damn judge the reduced his sentence and then left him out years early is more than responsible. It’s not like we didn’t know who he was, and what he intended.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

The killer eventually breaks down and confesses to EVERYTHING.

"Yeah, I did it, and I'm glad I did it!"

[wildcard_redneck]

"The thief who sold the murderer the stolen handgun should be charged under the Felony Murder Rule."

One thing that the people who scream "there ought to be a law" at every issue is that, sooner or later, those very same laws are used by government against them. The federal income tax was only ever meant to get those deadbeat millionaires you know.

[Disambiguator]

Nissan Altimas are the “assault weapons” of the automotive world.

[Equine1952]

True. Very true.