A former U.S. Army combat pilot was killed in a shooting at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, on Saturday, March 14, 2026, according to university police. The victim was identified as Brandon Shah, a 42-year-old former lieutenant colonel who had served as an Apache helicopter pilot in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Norfolk police stated the shooting occurred around 7:30 p.m. in a parking lot on the university campus. Shah, who was not a student, was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have not released details about a suspect or a motive, and an investigation is ongoing.
Old Dominion University confirmed that Shah had previously been enrolled as a student at the institution. In a statement, the university expressed condolences to his family and friends, noting the incident was isolated and there was no ongoing threat to the campus community.
Brandon Shah's military service included hundreds of hours of combat flight missions. The circumstances surrounding his death remain under investigation by the Norfolk Police Department.
